Team India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has revealed how he felt bowling to young Australian opener Sam Konstas on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test. Jasprit Bumrah said he was in control in the first two overs and added that he could have dismissed the opener six or seven times.
Sam Konstas wanted to put pressure on Bumrah and disrupt the pacer's rhythm by playing ramp shots. The strategy proved effective, Bumrah failed to dismiss him. Konstas scored a crucial half-century and added an opening stand of 89 runs. Australia were bowled out for 474 runs in the first innings.
I felt I could get Sam Konstas out six or seven times in the first two overs – Jasprit Bumrah
Speaking to 7Cricket ahead of Day 3 of the fourth Test, Jasprit Bumrah recalled his vast experience in T20 cricket when asked about Sam Konstas' counter-attack. Bumrah said he had more chances to dismiss Konstas in the first two overs but admitted that cricket is unpredictable.
“I've experienced a lot of that. I have played a lot of T20 cricket – more than 12 years of T20 cricket. Interesting batsman too and I always felt I was in the game. I never felt I was away from a wicket,” Bumrah said while talking to 7 Cricket.
“Initially I felt I could get him out six or seven times in the first two overs, but that's how cricket goes. Sometimes it pays off, it looks good, but some days it doesn't, and then you guys will be criticizing the same person. So that's cricket and I like different challenges and I always look forward to a new challenge,” he added.
Joining us is the best fast bowler in the world. Jasprit Bumrah talks about:
– If this is the best game you've ever played
– How it felt to bowl with Sam Konstas on Boxing Day
– Why he feels playing in Australia brings out the best in him
– Current status of the Test#AUSWIND pic.twitter.com/vlchRCwXjl— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 27, 2024
Sam Konstas broke Jasprit Bumrah's long-running streak in the first innings
Konstas scored 34 runs from Bumrah's first spell – the most by a Test batsman so far. The 19-year-old also became the first batsman in 2021 to hit a six off Bumrah, snapping his streak of 4,484 balls without conceding one. The right-handed batsman scored 60 off 65 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Bumrah leads the bowling charts in the series with 25 wickets in seven innings, including four wickets for 99 runs in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test. Mohammed Siraj is India's second best bowler after taking 13 wickets in four Tests.
He has always been a challenge because… – Jasprit Bumrah on Steve Smith
Jasprit Bumrah also spoke to Steve Smith about the challenge of bowling. Bumrah said the bowlers need to be consistent to counter Smith's ability to score in different areas. He praised Smith as one of the game's best, stressing the difficulty of dismissing him in Test cricket.
“He's always been a challenge because he's unorthodox, a bit like me when I bowl. It's not a conventional dough, some days it mixes, other days it doesn't. So it brings out a new challenge, obviously scoring in different areas of the game. ground so you have to be very consistent and bowl well every ball,” said Bumrah.
“It's always been a challenge, I've always had good battles with him in all formats, I've played against him for a long time. One of the greats of the game and in this format it's tough to play. He played. a great innings,” he he added.
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