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Jasprit Bumrah made a strong impact with three key wickets, but Australia claimed the honors on a riveting Boxing Day at the MCG, with their top four batters all scoring fifties. The spotlight, however, was stolen by 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas, who delivered a fearless innings in his first Test match. Konstas dazzled the crowd […]
Jasprit Bumrah made a strong impact with three key wickets, but Australia claimed the honors on a riveting Boxing Day at the MCG, with their top four batters all scoring fifties. The spotlight, however, was stolen by 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas, who delivered a fearless innings in his first Test match. Konstas dazzled the crowd with an audacious assault on Bumrah, smashing 32 runs off two overs and drawing a fiery reaction from Virat Kohli. Although his innings ended at 60 off 65 balls, Konstas had already cemented his place in Test cricket folklore, justifying the selectors’ bold decision to promote him to the top of the order after Nathan McSweeney’s struggles.
Despite Konstas’ fireworks, Bumrah proved his class by dismissing Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh, triggering a middle-order wobble as Australia lost 3 for 9 late in the day. Akash Deep supported him well, breaking another significant partnership by removing Alex Carey with the second new ball. Bumrah’s efforts underlined his value to the Indian attack, but they also reignited concerns about India’s over-reliance on him to deliver breakthroughs in critical moments.
Australia’s top four—Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Head, and Steven Smith—displayed contrasting styles to reach their half-centuries. Khawaja and Labuschagne played steady hands but fell short of converting their starts, while Smith remained unbeaten, holding the innings together as he approached his second century in three matches. Their collective achievement marked the first time since Rawalpindi in 2022 that Australia’s top four had all passed fifty in the same innings, reinforcing the depth and stability of their batting lineup.
By stumps, Smith had steered Australia to a commanding position, with his steady presence vital for extending their first-innings lead. While India’s bowlers fought back in the latter stages, the opening passages of the match belonged to Konstas and Australia’s top order, setting the tone for what could be a defining Test in this series.
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The day’s narrative was shaped by its remarkable start. Sam Konstas, making his Test debut, faced Jasprit Bumrah in a nervy first over filled with four plays and misses. His eighth delivery brought a couple of runs to raucous applause, and moments later, he revealed his intent with an audacious reverse scoop attempt, drawing a mix of cheers and gasps. Though initially troubled by Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, Konstas exploded into life after a cautious opening six overs, scripting a passage of play that will be remembered for years.
Facing Bumrah’s fourth over, Konstas scooped to fine leg, then unleashed a stunning reverse scoop for six over deep third. A near-repeat of the shot came three balls later, leaving Bumrah under pressure. By the time Bumrah returned for his sixth over, Konstas had shifted into overdrive, smashing 18 runs with a series of commanding drives, including a lofted slower ball over wide long-on. The drama escalated as Kohli shoulder-checked the youngster between overs, with Usman Khawaja stepping in as peacemaker. All eyes turned to the match referee for a potential verdict on the fiery exchange.
Konstas’ fifty, brought up with a quick two from 52 balls, was celebrated in emphatic fashion as he grabbed the Australian emblem on his chest and pointed to the name on his back. The crowd began to dream of an even greater spectacle, but Ravindra Jadeja had other plans, trapping him lbw in classic fashion. Though Konstas fell for 60, his fearless innings left an indelible mark, making him the talk of the cricketing world.
The tempo of the match shifted after his dismissal. The 89-run partnership between Konstas and Khawaja, achieved in just 116 balls, gave way to a more subdued stand of 65 between Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne that consumed 150 deliveries. The afternoon session began with four consecutive maidens from Bumrah and Akash Deep, whose luckless spells included edges falling short of slip. Khawaja reached just his second fifty of the year with a streaky boundary, marking a stark contrast to the earlier fireworks from his teenage partner.
India managed to keep the scoring under control for much of the day without posing significant threats until Jasprit Bumrah’s third spell provided a breakthrough. Usman Khawaja, looking solid, toe-ended a pull straight to midwicket off the first ball of the spell. Bumrah’s muted celebration reflected the unexpected nature of the dismissal. Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne appeared more assured than earlier in the series, showcasing delicate glides to third man and crisp drives that hinted at a return to form. After tea, Labuschagne and Steven Smith upped the tempo, adding 41 runs in six overs, though Akash Deep’s luckless spell underlined the persistent challenges from the pitch.
The momentum shifted again when Washington Sundar, replacing Shubman Gill in the side, struck in a timely fashion. Labuschagne’s attempt to drive a ball after the drinks break resulted in a sharp catch by Virat Kohli at mid-off, leaving the batter visibly distraught as his hopes for a Test century since July slipped away. Sensing an opportunity, Rohit Sharma turned to Bumrah, who delivered immediately. Travis Head, a constant thorn in India’s side with his aggressive batting, inexplicably left a delivery that clipped his off stump. In Bumrah’s next over, Mitchell Marsh, after a single glorious cover drive, edged a reckless pull to further India’s comeback.
At 3:50 PM, the ground rose for a poignant tribute to Shane Warne, matching his Test cap number, as the game hung in balance. During this period, Smith struck consecutive boundaries off Ravindra Jadeja, briefly steering Australia towards control. However, Akash Deep broke a promising 53-run stand between Smith and Alex Carey with a superb delivery from around the wicket. Smith, who had been Australia’s anchor, departed to warm applause for his composed innings, leaving the visitors well aware of his value in keeping the innings steady.
By the close of play, the crowd of 87,242 had dwindled, yet Smith’s exit marked a pivotal moment. While his efforts ensured Australia did not completely falter, the earlier fireworks and the tribute to Warne left an indelible mark on a gripping day of Test cricket.
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