New Delhi: Sam Konstas insists he is ready to face the Indian bowling attack spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
With the five-match series tied at 1-1 after three Tests, Australia dropped Nathan McSweeney to include Konstas as opening partner to Usman Khawaja.
The hosts had picked McSweeney, who isn’t a regular opener, over Konstas ahead of the first Test at Perth, which they lost by 295 runs.
They then bounced back to win the day-night Test at Adelaide following which the third match was drawn in Brisbane due to rain.
McSweeney had struggled to negotiate the new ball, particularly against Jasprit Bumrah, and made way for Konstas, who is regarded as one of the promising young top-order batters in Australian domestic cricket.
Bumrah is the leading wicket taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series and facing him in the remaining two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney would be a huge task. But he is excited at the challenge and is keen to pit his wits against one of world cricket’s topmost pacers.
‘Show intent’
“I’ve (been) very excited. I want to be challenged and I’ve got a few plans against those [Indian] bowlers. Feeling like I’m moving really nice and hopefully I get that opportunity,” Konstas told Fox Cricket.
“I’m just going to react to the ball and show a bit of intent and put pressure back on the bowlers.”
The 19-year-old said playing for his country in front of a sell-out MCG is a dream come true moment, having been New South Wales’ second-highest run scorer with 471 runs from eight innings, averaging 58.87 with two tons and a fifty in Australia’s domestic circuit.
“It will be a huge honour debuting. A dream come true. I think it’s a sell-out already (at the MCG). I’m very excited (to take on India). I want to be challenged. Nathan McSweeney is a very good player in all three formats – he actually congratulated me this morning so we’re very close mates. I wish him all the best,” he added.
Konstas scored a 97-ball 107 for Prime Minister’s XI against India in a warm-up game before the pink-ball Test at Adelaide after an unbeaten 73 in the second unofficial Test against India A.
With the five-match series tied at 1-1 after three Tests, Australia dropped Nathan McSweeney to include Sam Konstas as opening partner to Usman Khawaja. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
