Ricky Ponting rips Sam Konstas as call made for Bumrah and Virat Kohli sanctions

Ricky Ponting has called out Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja for time-wasting after fiery scenes in the final over at the SCG on Friday that might draw the ire of the match referee and ICC. The opening day of the fifth Test between Australia and India came to an explosive conclusion when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja on the final ball.

Rather than celebrate, Bumrah immediately turned and walked menacingly towards Konstas at the non-striker’s end, while a number of Indian players including Kohli screamed in the 19-year-old’s face as he walked off the ground. The Indians were fuming over time-wasting tactics that Khawaja and Konstas used to ensure it would be the final over of the day’s play.

Bumrah became perturbed when Khawaja held him up at one stage, but Konstas then injected himself into the situation with some choice words for the Indian captain. The situation then threatened to boil over when Bumrah and Konstas walked towards each other, with the umpire having to separate them.

Konstas appeared to tell Bumrah to “get back to his mark”, and the Indian skipper didn’t appear to take the jibe too kindly. As soon as he dismissed Khawaja he turned on his heel and walked straight towards the teenager at the non-striker’s end.

Bumrah could be seen staring daggers at Konstas as he walked off, while Kohli made sure to run straight past the 19-year-old so he could celebrate in his face. It came after Kohli was fined and hit with a demerit point for making physical contact with Konstas in the fourth Test in Melbourne.

Ricky Ponting and Tom Moody rip Sam Konstas’ actions

Speaking in commentary for Channel 7, Ponting said Konstas and Khawaja’s time-wasting tactics came back to bite them. “I never like playing around with a game of cricket like that,” the former Test captain said. “It has a way of coming back and biting you time after time. They tried their best to take time out of the game. And this is what has happened as a result.”

Former Test all-rounder Tom Moody was also critical of Konstas’ actions to insert himself into the situation when it wasn’t necessary. All the 19-year-old did was give Bumrah motivation to get his batting partner out.

“Sam Konstas has much to learn,” Moody wrote on social media. “I hope the dressing room is offering that guidance without suppressing his confidence and youthful enthusiasm. Usman had it all under control, what he didn’t need was the distraction of having to settle his partner down at the non strikers end!”

Could Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli face sanctions from ICC?

Meanwhile, questions are being asked about whether Bumrah and Kohli’s actions will draw the ire of the ICC and possibly result in a sanction. Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head were sanctioned after a fiery verbal spat following the Aussie’s dismissal in Adelaide, and the actions of Bumrah and Kohli would seemingly fall into the same category.

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As Andrew Wu of The Age noted on social media: “This is great theatre and all, and Sam Konstas isn’t the dismissed batter, but Virat Kohli and a few of his teammates are treading a fine line with their celebrations here.” Under ICC rules, players can be sanctioned for “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal.”

The actions of the Indian players to get in Konstas’ face could definitely fall into this category. Some labelled Bumrah and Kohli’s response “embarrassing” and “putrid” and showed they’re completely rattled by a 19-year-old in just his second Test match. Others thought the celebrations were poor from India considering they were bowled out for just 185 after winning the toss.