New Delhi: Sam Konstas showed the way for Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to take the cue as Australia reached 311/6 against India on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Teenage opener Konstas batted with an air of confidence and boldness of youth on debut as his 65-ball 60, including six boundaries and two sixes, laid the marker in the morning session after Australia won the toss and opted to bat.
Labuschagne’s 72 off 145 balls, with seven fours, and Smith’s unbeaten 68 off 111 deliveries (5×4, 1×6) then took it from Konstas, though with different approaches, but Jasprit Bumrah was inevitably (3/75 in 21 overs) present to jolt the Aussie plans.
Konstas becomes 2nd youngest Aussie to score Test fifty
For a 19-year-old, Konstas was hardly overawed by the occasion or the prospect of faching Bumrah, on the contrary disrupting his rhythm with unconventional shots.
He played a missed several times initially. But then backed himself to pull off outrageous ramp shots on both sides of the wickets as Bumrah was hit for six for the first time in three years.
Konstas completed his half century in 52 balls to become the second youngest Australian to score half century at 19 years and 85 days asAustralia got a solid opening partnership. Just as India wondered what to do, he was trapped leg before wicket by Ravindra Jadeja’s slow left arm spin.
The right-handed batter’s bravery and positive intent afforded Usman Khawaja (57, 121 balls, 6×4) enough time to make himself set for a long innings. But he too, like Konstas, was dismissed against the run of play as India toiled in the first three hours, forcing Virat Kohli to engage in gamesmanship.
Bumrah leads India fightback
Bumrah returned for his second spell to dismiss Khawaja’s with a miscued pull to give the Indians a ray of hope. Labuschage and Smith put on 87 to put Australia on top but his departure from an ill-advised lofted shot to Washington Sundar, included in place of Shubman Gill, gave India a window of opportunity.
Bumrah exploited it as his swing undid dangerman Travis Head’s (0) bails and lulled Mitchell Marsh (4) into a miscued pull as the hosts slumped to 246/5 from 237//2.
Together with Alex Carry (31), Smith stitched a 53-run stand as the score neared 300 with the willing Akash Deep finally getting reward, leaving the match finely balanced at stumps at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia posted 311/6 at stumps on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test after debutant Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith all scored half centuries as Jasprit Bumrah again emerged as India’s leading bowler. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
