The debutant Sam Konstas made headlines in his first international match. He attempted an audacious reverse scoop against one of the world’s best fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah as well. He hit a traditional scoop, hit a four and followed that with a reverse scoop for six off successive Bumrah deliveries at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as India took on Australia in the fourth Test on Day 1. Later, he scored a fifty to announce his arrival on the international stage, scoring 60 off 65 with six fours and two sixes.
“I always like to go out first and assert my dominance in a way and try to earn the crease,” Konstas said to the reporters after the end of the day’s play on Thursday. “I told (Usman Khawaja) it was straight away I’m facing first ball and he’s so good to bat with, very calm and relaxed and just time to trust my instincts and back my game.”
However, Sam Konstas was part of Australia’s U19 team that won the junior ODI World Cup earlier this year as they beat India in the final as well. He has been added to Australia’s Test squad for the remaining two matches of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy after another rookie – Nathan McSweeney – failed to leave a mark in the first three matches.
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“The boys and (skipper) Pat Cummins have been really good to me, just saying, be myself and I’m here for a reason because I’m scoring runs, so I felt that was the right moment today to do it and yeah, it paid off,” Konstas said. “I think it probably will look silly if I do get out, but I worked pretty hard on that (ramp) shot and I feel like it’s probably a safe shot for me really. But I think that’s the beauty about being young, it may be a bit naive but I’m just trying to put pressure back on the bowlers, that’s the best way I think and I did today and it was good to get a few runs.”
Sam Konstas added that Test cricket has changed, and batters are more open to playing unorthodox shots while stating that he’s going to stick to the approach.
“I reckon maybe 20 or 30 years ago people were probably saying defend a lot and just bat all day. But I think new generation, there are new shots and it’s exciting for me obviously as I like doing that and putting pressure back on the bowlers and hopefully it pays off in the next innings,” he concluded.
