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Sam Konstas has announced himself to the world in unforgettable fashion. At just 19 years old, he achieved what few could even dream of, dismantling one of the world's premier bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, with fearless precision.
As the fourth-youngest Australian to debut in Test cricket, Konstas etched his name into history books, recording the third-fastest half-century on debut by an Australian and the quickest ever by an opener.
What Sam Konstas did to Jasprit Bumrah was nothing short of extraordinary. He toyed with a bowler who had dominated Australia throughout the series, taking more runs off him in a single spell than any other Test batter ever had.
The contrast was stark. Nathan McSweeney, the man Konstas replaced, managed just 15 runs off 66 balls with four dismissals against Bumrah across three Tests. Usman Khawaja had scored 4 off 27 in 70 balls, and Marnus Labuschagne 2 off 13 in 70 balls in the same matches.
But Konstas? He smashed an unbeaten 34 off 33 balls against Bumrah, including 18 runs in a single over—Bumrah's most expensive over in Test cricket. Konstas hit him for two sixes, a feat previously achieved only by Jos Buttler, who wasn’t opening the batting on debut. Remarkably, no batter had hit Bumrah for a six in Test cricket since January 2021.
"I'll look to keep targeting him," Konstas confidently told the Fox Cricket broadcast during the first drinks break. "Hopefully, he might come back on."
The fireworks didn’t stop there. When Mohammed Siraj sledged him, Konstas charged down the wicket and slapped a boundary through point on the very next ball, revving up the crowd with a hand gesture. Even Virat Kohli got involved, deliberately bumping shoulders with the debutant and telling him to "watch where he's going." Unfazed, Konstas stood his ground and gave it right back to India’s cricketing king.
When asked about the fiery exchanges, Konstas shrugged it off, saying, "Whatever [happens] on the field stays on the field."
Privately, one former Australian player suggested that Konstas might just be the most fearless debutant in the history of Australian Test cricket.
Sam Konstas counters Jasprit Bumrah with audacious ramp shots • Getty Images
Sam Konstas’ fearless debut innings deserves all the praise for putting Australia in a commanding position by lunch on the opening day. While he rode his luck at times, his extraordinary bravery was the catalyst for his success.
Credit must also go to Australia’s selectors for making the bold decision to drop Nathan McSweeney. It wasn’t an easy call—McSweeney was deemed good enough for Test cricket and likely to earn another opportunity—but he wasn’t putting any pressure on India’s bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah.
Chair of selectors George Bailey explained the rationale: “We wanted to throw a different look at Bumrah and India, and Konstas was that different look.”
The decision now seems inspired, but after 21 balls, it looked like a gamble gone wrong. Konstas appeared overwhelmed, like a lamb to the slaughter against Bumrah in front of 80,000 spectators.
In his opening over, Bumrah beat him four times. Two balls into the next over, Konstas finally got off the mark with a flick behind square off a rare straight delivery. The crowd erupted in a roar of relief, showing just how invested they were in the young debutant’s survival.
Bumrah returned to his usual arsenal, bending outswingers away from the off stump. Then, on just his 11th ball in Test cricket, Konstas attempted an audacious reverse scoop—and missed. The crowd gasped audibly, their collective reaction akin to a giant “WTF.” A replay on the big screen drew nervous laughter, even from Usman Khawaja at the other end.
Undeterred, Konstas tried a forward defense and was beaten again. Three balls into Bumrah’s next over, he attempted another reverse scoop and missed once more. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, with phones buzzing as incredulous messages flew: “What is this kid doing? Did Joe Root switch sides?”
Finally, Konstas rotated the strike, thanks to Khawaja. Facing Mohammed Siraj, he charged and missed with a wild swipe, only to charge again and swat a shot through the leg side for three runs. Siraj rewarded him with a death stare.
At this point, Konstas was 5 off 21 balls, and Australia sat at 12 for 0 after six overs. There was little indication he would fare any better than McSweeney had against Bumrah. For a moment, it seemed to confirm the suspicion that no Australian batter could conquer the Indian spearhead.
Konstas’ Daring Brilliance Transforms the Game
How wrong the doubters were. Sam Konstas didn’t just rewrite the narrative; he shattered it, proving that persistence and belief can yield extraordinary results.
The turning point came in the first ball of Jasprit Bumrah’s fourth over. Konstas shuffled outside off and scooped Bumrah over fine leg, narrowly missing a six but drawing a mighty roar from the crowd. What followed was even more audacious: a reverse scoop for six. The sheer boldness was breathtaking. Three balls later, Konstas executed another reverse scoop, this time for four, taking 14 runs off the over.
To attempt a high-risk shot twice, fail both times, and then succeed twice in quick succession speaks volumes about Konstas’ unshakable faith in his abilities.
Though Konstas had rarely showcased this shot in first-class cricket, his instinct shone through. He’d executed it once in a Prime Minister’s XI match, but only in a limited-overs context. In the Sheffield Shield, his attempt at the shot during an innings of 88 reportedly left coach Greg Shipperd anxious. Yet, in his Test debut, Konstas embraced the moment, unburdened by fear of failure.
This instinct-driven approach stems from his mentorship under Shane Watson. Watson instilled in Konstas the principle of trusting his “gut feel.” If a shot feels right in the moment, Watson teaches, players should commit to it without fear of the outcome.
Against Bumrah, that gut feel proved pivotal. Much like Rishabh Pant’s audacious play against Scott Boland or England’s Bazballers targeting line-and-length bowlers, Konstas turned the tables on Bumrah’s relentless accuracy.
When asked during the drinks break if he had planned the shot, Konstas’ response was simple: “When the ball was coming down.”
The impact was immediate. Rohit Sharma moved a third slip to deep third, opening gaps in the field. Konstas exploited them, nicking one delivery that would’ve been caught by a slip had the fielder remained.
In Bumrah’s fifth and final over of his first spell, Konstas unleashed a masterclass. He stepped outside leg to drive straight past mid-off, pulled through midwicket, and launched a length ball over long-on for six. A low full toss was carved behind point for four, and the final ball was lofted over mid-off for two. Bumrah conceded 18 runs in the over, finishing his six-over spell with 38 runs against his name.
Konstas raced to his maiden Test fifty off 52 balls, earning a thunderous ovation. He followed it with another fearless shot, charging Siraj and hammering a short ball over midwicket.
His remarkable innings ended on 60 off 65 balls when Ravindra Jadeja trapped him lbw. The crowd rose to its feet, giving Konstas a standing ovation as he walked off. Ever the fan favorite, he later returned to sign autographs and take selfies with supporters.
The ripple effects of Konstas’ knock were profound. His attacking intent freed Usman Khawaja, who cruised to his first half-century in 12 innings. Their 89-run opening stand was Australia’s highest in over a year and the best against India since 2018.
When Bumrah returned for his later spells, the contrast was stark. His impeccable lines and lengths resumed, and Australia’s scoring slowed significantly. Yet, the damage had been done. The early threat of the new ball had dissipated, and India appeared unsettled and unsure.
Konstas’ fearless debut not only provided a spark for Australia in the present but also hinted at a bright future. The afterglow of his supernova debut is set to shine for a long time.
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