Konstas on taking down Bumrah on debut with a plethora of reverse ramps and audacious front foot charge down the wicket.
Konstas on taking down Bumrah as he puts his side ina commanding position at the end of Day 1,
Youthful naivete. Sam Konstas claims that’s the key to back-scooping Jasprit Bumrah for six.
Very few 19-year-olds are aware of their naivete. However, Konstas seems to be. He almost got out to the reverse scoop twice in the first three overs, but in his incredible maiden innings at the MCG, he lap scooped Bumrah once and reverse scooped him twice to the boundary.
Konstas chose to concentrate on the chance to score rather than the repercussions of making a mistake, unconcerned about what may have been said if he had gotten out to that shot.
“I think it probably will look silly if I did get out,” Konstas said at the end of a day when 87,242 fans came to the MCG. “But I’ve worked pretty hard on that shot, and I feel like it’s probably a safe shot for me really. But I think that’s the beauty about being young and maybe a bit naive. I’m just trying to put pressure back on the bowler in the best way I think is, and it was good to get a few runs today.”
The importance of playing the ball rather than the man was demonstrated by Konstas. After Konstas went out, Bumrah took three wickets to bring India back into the game: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh. Bumrah had already tormented Australia’s hitters during the first three Test matches.
After beating him four times in the first over and seven times in his first three, including the two unsuccessful reverse scoops, he promised to torture Konstas as well. Konstas, however, was not at all agitated.
“I think I was just getting used to the wicket, first time facing him, getting used to his action,” Konstas on taking down said. “Obviously, he beat my bat quite a few times, and [I] was lucky enough to get a few away. But it was a great contest.
“He’s a legend of the game, obviously, so I was trying to put a bit of pressure on him, and it paid off today. But obviously, he took three wickets and he changed the momentum. But I think I’m always challenging myself, trying to bring the best out of myself, so just getting that contest with him and trying to take his lines away.”
He removed more than just his lines. During his Test career, he did something that no one had ever done to Bumrah. It was the first time Bumrah had given up 18 runs in one over. For the first time, he gave up 38 runs in a six-over period. He let up two sixes to an individual for the second time in over four years and was hammered for six for the first time.
Konstas said that his reverse scoop was planned and intended to secure the field adjustments that India ultimately granted him.
“Yeah, definitely premeditated, especially with the pace,” Konstas said. “[I was] just trying to keep my head still and just watch it as hard onto my bat. But yeah, got a few away today and changed the field, which was good, and then trying to [get them to] bowl in my zones.”