Jasprit Bumrah’s savage act for Sam Konstas amid uproar over ‘farcical’ drama

India quick Jasprit Bumrah has had the last laugh against Sam Konstas after removing the 19-year-old Aussie debutant cheaply in the first session of day four at the MCG. A stunning maiden century for Nitish Kumar Reddy (114) on Saturday left the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series on a knife’s edge but he only added another nine more runs on Sunday as India were bowled out for 369 – trailing Australia’s first innings score by 105 runs.

With just two days left for Australia to chase victory to go 2-1 up in the series, they would have been hoping for Konstas to replicate his extraordinary day one half century on Test debut. Konstas left the cricket world gobsmacked after belting the world’s best bowler Bumrah all around the ground in an explosive knock of 60 off just 65 balls.

But sadly for the Aussies, there was no repeat of Konstas’ eye-catching pyrotechnics on day four as Bumrah showed once again why he’s been the home side’s chief tormentor. Konstas had next to no chance as Bumrah angled in a delivery that started well outside his off stump and swung back in, before nipping back even further off the seam and crashing into the stumps.

Jasprit Bumrah mocks Sam Konstas in cheeky send-off

Bumrah followed up the incredible dismissal with an equally eye-catching send-off for the Aussie teen, who scored a record 34 runs off the Indian quick in his opening session on Boxing Day. Konstas has also been playing conductor for the fans across the first three days and Bumrah returned serve by throwing his arms up dramatically towards the crowd in brutal mockery of the 19-year-old.

“That meant a lot to Bumrah. He was taken down by Konstas in the first innings, 34 in the first spell,” Aussie great Damien Fleming said on Seven’s coverage. “But the great fast bowler has worked out a plan and generally it’s been the ball seaming in and that’s hit, crashed into the top of middle stump. What a celebration. That is the pathway to the pavilion for Konstas. The youngster has got to go.”

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India had earlier squandered a chance to remove Konstas’ opening partner Usman Khawaja for two, when he tried to flick Bumrah through square leg but picked out Yashasvi Jaiswal instead, with the youngster unable to hold onto the catch. Fortunately for India, the mistake didn’t prove too costly as Khawaja was sent packing for 21 after being clean bowled by Mohammed Siraj from a full delivery that did just enough off the pitch to get through the opener.

Pat Cummins and Aussies denied in ‘farcical’ scenes

Those wickets came after what some described as a ‘farcical’ incident at the start of day four, when Australia thought they’d taken the final wicket of the tourists. Aussie captain Pat Cummins was left baffled after a full-length delivery to Siraj deflected off his bat and was caught by Steve Smith at second slip. Siraj stood his ground and umpire Michael Gough sent the decision to the third official, who decided that it was a bump ball as contact with Siraj’s bat came simultaneously with it hitting the pitch.

It was an extremely close call that could have gone either way but the speed with which the third official made the call left Cummins gobsmacked as the skipper challenged the call. Cummins pleaded with officials to take a closer over the footage but Gough and fellow umpire Joel Wilson waved away the Aussie captain’s call, leaving fans and commentators perplexed.

“I tell you what, I think that needed a bit more of an interrogation,” Aussie cricket great Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket. “Pat (Cummins) wants to review it, this is very interesting, I’ve never seen this. Pat is saying you umpires took it upstairs on your own behalf, now I would like to review that decision.

“I do think it needs to be inspected a little bit more closely if indeed you’re allowed to review it. It felt like a rushed decision.” Mark Waugh added: “That was very, very tight … For me it just bounced before it hit the bat. It’s on the ground there and then it comes up.

“It was tight but I would say it’s probably out… it’s one I’ve never seen before to be quite honest. You could probably go either way and he’s not 100 per cent sure.” Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri weighed in by saying: “The umpire said I’ve seen the ball bounce after it hit the bat. That was a very quick call, a very quick call, just two replays.”