Young Australian opening batsman Sam Konstas created a significant record during the Boxing Day Test match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. Sam Konstas became the first batsman in the world to hit a six against Team India's bowling leader Jasprit Bumrah in Tests since 2021.
Australia made changes to the playing XI after Bumrah's performance with the new ball in the last three Tests. The selection committee, chaired by George Bailey, included Konstas in place of Nathan McSweeney. He had impressed with a century in the warm-up match between India and the Prime Minister's XI.
Konstas creates history on his Test debut in Melbourne
Australia's plan was to counter Jasprit Bumrah's threat early in the innings and Sam Konstas executed it perfectly. The right-handed batsman used an ultra-aggressive approach against Bumrah. Konstas' tactics paid off as he scored 34 runs off Bumrah's opening spell – the most by a batsman in red-ball cricket so far.
Konstas made history by becoming the first batsman to hit a six off Jasprit Bumrah in Test cricket since 2021. He achieved this feat on the second ball of the seventh ball of Australia's first innings.
The last player to hit a six off Bumrah was Cameron Green. Bumrah bowled 4,484 balls without conceding a six in the last four years, but that streak was snapped during the Boxing Day Test.
A debut Test innings that will live long in the memory.
Enjoy highlights from Sam Konstas' 60th birthday on Boxing Day #AUSWIN pic.twitter.com/1ZD35GuV65
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024
Sam Konstas became the second youngest Australian to score a Test Fifty
Konstas hit his maiden Test half-century in just 52 balls. He became the second-youngest Australian to score a Test fifty, achieving the feat at 19 years and 85 days.
The youngest to achieve this was Ian Craig, who scored a fifty at 17 years and 239 days in 1953, while Neil Harvey, who was 19 years and 121 days, is third.
One of the most fascinating Test debut half-century I have ever witnessed – Ian Bishop
Konstas scored 60 runs off 65 balls with six fours and two sixes before being dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja. Harsha Bhogle praised Konstas for his boldness, noting that the selectors probably did not expect such a response.
Irfan Pathan highlighted the fearlessness and bold approach that Konstas brought to Bumrah. Ian Bishop described Konstas' half-century as one of the most fascinating debuts he had seen, praising the young batsman for not backing down from anyone.
“And this is Test cricket! #SamKonstas. When the selectors said they wanted to throw another challenge at India's bowlers, they couldn't have imagined it would turn out like this,” Harsha Bhogle tweeted.
“What I see with Sam Konstas is fearlessness and borderline stupidity. But that's what Australia wanted. We wanted someone to take on Jasprit Bumrah in a different way,” Irfan Pathan posted.
“This is one of the most fascinating debut Test half-centuries I have ever witnessed Sam Konstas. He doesn't back down from anyone either, senior or junior,” wrote Ian Bishop.
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