New Delhi: Australia opener Sam Konstas caught the eye on debut with unconventional shots as he hit reverse scooped Jasprit Bumrah for two sixes on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Thursday.
The 19-year-old is the youngest Test opener for Australia and he impressed on debut, scoring 60 runs off 65 balls with six boundaries and two sixes.
He ramped Bumrah for two sixes in an on incredible piece of action on the first hour of the game after Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
It was after 4,483 deliveries and three years since Cameron Green hit Bumrah for a six in Sydney in 2021 that the Indian pacer conceded an over-boundary. It was the 23rd ball of his debut innings that Konstas hit his first six in Test cricket.
WHAT ARE WE SEEING!
Sam Konstas just whipped Jasprit Bumrah for six 😱#AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/ZuNdtCncLO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
Konstas was beaten several times in the maiden first over by Bumrah. But then the youngster decided to be aggressive against Bumrah in the seventh over of the Australian innings.
Konstas shuffled across his crease and scooped the first delivery of the seventh over over keeper Rishabh Pant’s head for a boundary. Bumrah was again at the receiving end as Konstas sent the second delivery, a bit fuller in length outside off stump, over the slip cordon for the first six of the game.
2nd youngest Aussie to Test fifty
Konstas also became the second youngest cricketer to score a Test half century for Australia, reaching his half century aged 19 years and 85 days, second only to Ian Craig, who was 17 years and 240 days when he hit a fifty against South Africa in Melbourne in 1953.
Konstas then reverse scooped the fourth delivery of the 11th over for a six, becoming only the second player to hit Bumrah for two sixes in an innings in Tests after Jos Buttler.
Earlier, Konstas became the 468th player to receive the prestigious Baggy Green Test cap, which was handed to him by Australia captain Mark Taylor. He is the fourth youngest to represent Australia in the red-ball cricket.
Youngest to score a half-century for Australia in Tests
17y 240d Ian Craig vs SA Melbourne 1953
19y 85d Sam Konstas vs Ind Melbourne 2024
19y 121d Neil Harvey vs Ind Melbourne 1948
19y 150d Archie Jackson vs Eng Adelaide 1929
It was after 4,483 deliveries and three years that Jasprit Bumrah conceded a six in Test cricket as Sam Konstas reverse scooped him over the boundary on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at MCG. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
