IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test Day 1: Konstas and Khawaja put Australia on top in 4th Test against India

At stumps, Australia 311 for six with Smith on 68; Marnus Labuschagne departs for a well-made 72, Washington gets a wicket as Kohli plucks a fine catch, Australia 237 for three

Debutant teenager Sam Konstas set the tone with an audacious half-century as Australia cashed in on an erratic Indian bowling to reach 176 for 2 at tea on day one of the fourth Test here on Thursday (December 26, 2024). At stumps, Australia 311 for six with Smith on 68

Australia seized control on the opening day of the fourth Test against India on Thursday on the back of half-centuries from fearless teenage opener Sam Konstas and dogged veteran Usman Khawaja.

Batting after captain Pat Cummins won the toss on a steamy day, they were an ominous 176-2 by the break at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Marnus Labuschagne was not out 44 and Steve Smith on 10 with Khawaja (57) the only wicket to fall in the second session, where 64 runs were added.

A carefree Konstas was out before lunch for a whirlwind 60 off 65 balls in a debut to remember, slamming 18 off one Jasprit Bumrah over and having a run-in with superstar Virat Kohli.

Making his debut in-front of a near sell-out Boxing Day crowd, Konstas didn’t show any nerves during his scintillating 60 off 65 balls, which comprised of two sixes off India’s best bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

He also didn’t mind a good scrap with India’s superstar Virat Kohli, whose shoulder brush with the 19-year-old led to a brief confrontation.

In fact, Bumrah was hit for a six for the first time in a Test since Cameron Green hit him for one back in 2021. The gap between Konstas’ first six, which was a reverse lap scoop, and one that Green hit was 4000 legal Test match deliveries.

The way he attacked the Indian bowling with great gusto gave his veteran opening partner Usman Khawaja (57 off 121 balls) chance to get back to form with a patient half-century.

Khawaja would be really annoyed with himself as he couldn’t time a pull-shot off a Bumrah half-tracker which went straight into KL Rahul’s hands post-lunch.

The duo added 89 runs in such quick time that Marnus Labuschagne (44 batting off 109 balls) and last match’s centurion Steve Smith (10 batting off 25 balls) didn’t need to show any urgency.

For Konstas, it all began with few play and misses off Bumrah’s opening over but as soon as the teenage opener got his first couple of runs, things changed dramatically.

The fearlessness of youth stood out on the big stage as Konstas pulled off a reverse lap-scoop against Bumrah before smashing him over mid-on for another maximum.

There was another reverse lap scoop for a boundary wide of third man, using Bumrah’s extra pace.

‘Beginner’s Luck’ spoils Bumrah’s spell

The fans and experts alike were forced to think the last time Bumrah (1/50 in 15 overs) was hit for two sixes in his first morning spell of a Test match. They couldn’t because it never happened in a first spell.

The stump mic caught Bumrah saying “Beginner’s Luck” but he seemed to have enough wares to answer his probing queries. And it was laced with a lot of spunk that allowed him to get into a verbal duel with Kohli after their shoulders brushed while crossing each other.

He often shuffled towards leg-stump to make room and on one occasion crunched Bumrah past cover. Mohammed Siraj was welcomed into the attack with a loud round of boos as he sledged the youngster due to his unconventional hitting style.

In all, he hit six fours apart from the two maximums. Only Akash Deep bowled a good channel among the pacers as Siraj was guilty of bowling too full or too short.

As Australia scored at more than a fair clip, skipper Rohit Sharma had to introduce Ravindra Jadeja (1/33 in 11 overs) in the 16th over to at least stem the flow of runs before it went out of hand.

The decision did pay dividends as the seasoned spinner got an arm ball to skid through with the angle to trap Konstas in front. Khawaja and Labuschagne then added 65 for the second wicket with the Pakistan-born opener hitting Akash Deep for a couple of boundaries to complete his first fifty of the series.

Teams:

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India:: Yashasvi Jaiswal, K.L. Rahul, Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

Published - December 26, 2024 06:02 am IST