All the talk heading into the Boxing Day Test was that debutant Sam Konstas’ confidence was the real deal and the teen freak wasted no time proving it.
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Konstas became the youngest Test player ever to open the batting for Australia and deciding to face the first ball, he then attempted a ramp shot in the third over against the best bowler in the world Jasprit Bumrah.
Given the context, it was just about as outrageous as things get in Test cricket and the 19-year-old was lucky not to be clean bowled after getting nowhere near the ball.
He then tried it again in the fifth over with the same result and Indian superstar Virat Kohli openly laughed at Konstas.
The first two overs from Konstas and Usman Khawaja were the most plays and misses in a Test since records begain in 2006.
Undeterred, Konstas tried it three more times against Bumrah and went four, six, four in stunning scenes at the MCG.
“The staring at the bowler… he looks up for the challenge, he doesn’t look at all shy or out of place, he’s looking the bowler in the eye and he’s got that little bit of arrogance about him and confidence, which you need at this level when you’re so young,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket seconds before the first ramp attempt.
“We were talking about it pre-game if he would play that shot and I said he might once he gets a few runs on the board, but not in the third over of your first Test match. I’m glad it bounced over the stumps.
“He’s just sending a signal that I’m not intimidated and I’m going to play my way, I don’t care if I’m playing a Test match against the best bowler in the world, I’m going to do what I’m going to do.”
Adam Gilchrist responded: “Khawaja is twice the age of his batting partner and just gave him a wry smile.”
On the first ball of the seventh over, Konstas was third time lucky against Bumrah and connected his ramp for a one-bounce four.
“Finally gets what he gets what he so richly strived for… welcome to the big stage,” Gilchrist said.
The very next ball and Konstas connected with another ramp, this time for six.
“Oh and again and this one has gone all the way! Can you believe what you’re seeing?!” Gilchrist said.
The teenager finished the over with another ramp four and then in the ninth over picked a Bumrah slower ball and sent it over the fence.
Bumrah hadn’t been hit for six in 25 Tests over the past four years before Konstas did it twice in 20 minutes as Kohli’s laughter stopped.
The Indian veteran started sledging Konstas and then dropped a shoulder into him in ugly scenes in between overs.
“To be honest, I don’t know what that achieves… they’ve resolved that quickly enough. But I don’t think it was necessary,” Harsha Bhogle said on Fox Cricket.
Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy added: “It’s a tricky one. Probably more disappointing than anything else that your experienced player, one of your best players in the country, as well is quite visibly looking at the wider picture and made a beeline for the youngest player in the opposition. It doesn’t really set the greatest tone for your side. But if that’s one way the Indian team wants to approach it, so be it. But it didn’t rattle him one bit.”
While Kohli copped plenty of heat for the collision, he could not dampen the mood. Reaction came thick and fast after Konstas’ bravado, which saw him reach a half-century.
