On the first day of the fourth Test here on Thursday, Australia’s top-order, inspired by teenage debutant Sam Konstas’ stroke-filled half-century, led the hosts to 311 for 6, but Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to produce magic deliveries in crucial moments kept India alive.
Bumrah’s (3/75 in 21 overs) deception of length to dismiss Travis Head (0) also had its takers as cries of “Boom, Boom, Booooomraaaaaaah” echoed through the stands on a humid morning when Konstas’ bold 60 off 65 balls captivated the nearly sold-out crowd of over 80,000 at the MCG.
Head was unable to predict the length of a Bumrah ball that was thrown a little longer than the batsman had anticipated since he had just come off back-to-back hundreds going into the Test. The 66.2-over veteran Kookaburra snuck back to clip the off-bail as he shouldered his arms in the hopes that they would bounce.
After receiving Usman Khawaja (57 off 121 balls) with the half-tracker in the post-lunch session, he dismissed an unproductive Mitchell Marsh (4) in the next over.
However, Australia dominated the opening two sessions, with half-centuries from veteran batsmen Steve Smith (68 batting, 111 balls), Marnus La-buschagne (72 off 145 balls), and Khawaja.
The focus of the last class was Bumrah magic. At one point, the hosts threatened to win the game, but the Indian leadership prevented them from doing so. In the series, he has already claimed 24 wickets.
With off-spinner Washington Sundar (1/37 in 12 overs) bowling a containing line and Mohammed Siraj (0/69 in 15 overs) off of form, Bumrah had little help. At the end of the day, however, Akash Deep (1/59 in 19 overs) got Alex Carey with the second new ball. Despite dismissing Konstas and using batting all-rounder Nitish Reddy shortly before the second new ball was taken, even Ravindra Jadeja (1/54 in 14 overs) gave up runs.
The bright 19-year-old from New South Wales dominated the morning. Throughout his thrilling knock, which included two sixes from Bumrah, Konstas shown no signs of nervousness.
For the first time since Cameron Green struck him for a six in 2021, Bumrah was really hit for a six in a Test match. There were 4000 legal deliveries in Test matches between Green’s six three years ago and Konstas’ maiden six, which was a lap scoop.
Konstas hit a reverse lap scoop towards third man for extra boundary after a traditional lap scoop for maximum. Over mid-on, the second six was hammered.
He gave his seasoned opening partner Khawaja a chance to return to form with a patient half-century by attacking the Indian bowling with zest.
However, Khawaja will be furious with himself when, during the post-lunch session, he failed to time a pull shot off a Bumrah half-tracker, which went directly into KL Rahul’s hands. The pair scored 89 runs so quickly that Labuschagne and Smith, the centurion from the previous game, didn’t have to act hurriedly.
It all started for Konstas with a few plays and misses in Bumrah’s first over, but everything drastically altered once the youngster scored his first few runs. When Konstas performed the lap-scoop against Bumrah and then smashed him over mid-on for another maximum, it was evident how courageous young people can be on a large platform.
Both analysts and fans were compelled to consider the last time Bumrah smashed two sixes in his first stint of a Test match (1/50 in 15 overs). Since it never occurred during a first spell, they were unable to.
Bumrah was heard yelling “Beginner’s Luck” on the stump mic, but Konstas seemed to have enough merchandise to respond to his pointed questions. And it was full of sarcasm when he and Kohli engaged in a verbal sparring match as their shoulders collided as they crossed one other. (PTI)
Quick Scores:
In 86 overs, Australia defeated India with 311/6 (Marnus Labuschagne 72, Sam Konstas 60, Usman Khawaja 57, Steve Smith 68 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 3-75, Washington Sundar 1-37).
