In an exciting display of youthful exuberance, 19 years old Australia Dough Konstas himself made headlines during his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test against India. Facing the impressive Jasprit BumrahKonstas showed a bold T20-style approach with his blistering knock of 60 runs that left commentators and fans alike in awe.
The stage was set at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) when Konstas walked out to open the innings. The young debutant faced a tough battle against Bumrah, who has long been considered one of the best fast bowlers in the world. After a cautious start in which he had difficulty hitting the ball with two ramp attempts, Konstas finally found his rhythm in the seventh round. He executed a brilliant reverse ramp shot over the wicketkeeper’s head for four runs, followed by an audacious six that sent shockwaves through the stadium.
His boldness left commentators speechless. Mark Waugh exclaimed: “I can’t believe this,” while Ravi Shastri noted how Konstas had effectively unsettled Bumrah, a strategy that appeared to have paid off. “He did well to unsettle Bumrah and so far it has worked for Konstas,” Shastri said.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Konstas continued to attack, ending the over with two boundaries and a total of 16 runs – Bumrah’s highest concession in recent history.
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Here is the video:
WHAT’S UP?!
Konstas hits Bumrah for four…
And the next ball brings Bumrah for SIX!#AUSWIN pic.twitter.com/crhuNOMVLc
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024
A historic moment for Konstas
Konstas’ successes weren’t just about runs; it was historical in nature. By hitting Bumrah for a six, he became the first batsman since then Cameron Green in 2021 to achieve this feat against the Indian pacer, who had made an astonishing 4483 deliveries without conceding a goal in Test matches. This remarkable stat highlights the importance of Konstas’ performance and positions him as a player to keep an eye on in future games.
The debutant’s fearless approach has drawn comparisons to the ‘Bazball’ style of cricket he popularized England under coach Brendon McCullum. Waugh noted that Konstas had clearly formulated a plan against Bumrah, although he initially kept it secret.
The reactions of experienced commentators showed the impact Konstas had with the bat. Adam Gilchrist praised his ability to take on one of the world’s best bowlers with so much confidence at such a young age.
“He had said that he had a plan against Jasprit Bumrah but did not reveal it. This could be his way of defeating Bumrah.” Gilchrist concluded. The consensus among experts was clear: Konstas’ performance was not just an anomaly, but rather an indication of a new generation of cricketers who are not afraid to challenge traditional norms.
