MCG debut and Bumrah do not faze Sam Konstas as he prepares to take his place up the Australian top order on Boxing Day.
MCG debut and the small matter of facing Jasprit Bumrah is something that potential debutant Sam Konstas is relishing.
Three weeks ago, Konstas was called up to Australia’s Test team in lieu of Nathan McSweeney after smashing 107 off 97 balls against India. Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep all played in India’s Canberra onslaught, which was the closest thing Konstas has ever seen to a Test team.
However, Bumrah, the player who has hurt Australia the most this summer, was the only visitor who did not attend that game. In domestic cricket this summer, Konstas has outperformed everyone else, but Bumrah is officially the most destructive visitor to Australia.
With 53 at 17.15 over three visits, Bumrah now has the highest bowling average of any foreign player in the nation who has taken more than 50 wickets.
It implies that Konstas may face Bumrah in front of a packed house and on a lively MCG pitch this summer, providing him with the most difficult start to Test cricket. However, the 19-year-old stated that he would not overanalyse the circumstances.
“I won’t watch too much [of him],” Konstas said. “I have already seen him a lot. But I am excited to challenge myself and face him. Usually, our analysts do a little feedback on each bowler. I might read that, maybe.”
“I’m super confident,” he said. “Just backing my skills, I have done all the hard work. Just another game, I guess, and trying to keep it simple. As a kid you have always dreamt of the moment, and it is very rare, getting your baggy green. So it’s a huge honour if I do get in.”