Australia 311 for six (Smith 68*, Cummins 8*, Labuschagne 72, Bumrah 3-75) vs India
Inside an hour of his first Check innings Konstas, who grew to become his nation’s fourth-youngest males’s participant, was essentially the most talked-about determine within the recreation having openly taken 32 off two overs from Bumrah. Whereas he was stopped on 60 off 65 balls, he had already written himself a chapter among the many most outstanding debuts and greater than repaid the selectors’ need to supply one thing totally different on the high of the order after Nathan McSweeney’s struggles.
Sam Konstas celebrates his fifty•Getty Pictures
However it was all about how the day began. Konstas’ first over in Check cricket was towards Bumrah and consisted of 4 performs and misses. Off his eighth supply he labored a brace into the leg aspect to a loud ovation and two deliveries later signaled his intent with an try and reverse scoop Bumrah which introduced a mix of cheers and gasps.
He missed one other an over later and with Mohammed Siraj additionally troubling Khawaja, Australia had been 12 with out loss after six overs when Konstas unleashed a passage of play that can by no means be forgotten. Off Bumrah’s fourth over he scooped to fantastic leg, reverse scooped for six over deep third and was an inch away from repeating it three balls later.
Not lengthy after, a rapidly run two introduced up his fifty from 52 balls and he grabbed the Australian emblem on his shirt whereas pointing to the title on the again. What had been you doing as a 19-year-old on Boxing Day? The thoughts began to wander in direction of one thing much more spectacular, however Ravindra Jadeja trapped Konstas lbw in a fashion many a extra skilled batter has been eliminated.
The tempo then reverted to one thing extra conventional: the stand of 89 between Konstas and Khawaja took 116 balls, the following of 65 between Khawaja and Labuschagne required 150. The afternoon session began with 4 consecutive maidens from Bumrah and Akash, the latter once more bowling with out luck. Each batters had edges fall wanting slip and one other from Khawaja which bisected the cordon took him to simply his second fifty of the yr.
Jasprit Bumrah eliminated Travis Head for a duck•Getty Pictures
India had been largely preserving the scoreboard below management however weren’t overly threatening, just for Khawaja to toe-end a pull towards the primary ball of Bumrah’s third spell to midwicket which left the bowler slightly embarrassed to have fun.
Labuschagne was nonetheless not fairly at his fluent finest, however was trying pretty much as good as he had all sequence with some delicate glides to 3rd off Jadeja and the sorts of drives to recommend higher days lie forward for Australia’s No. 3. There was a shift in gears after tea with Labuschagne and Smith including 41 within the first six overs of the ultimate session towards the older ball, though there remained sufficient help from the floor to problem the batters as one other luckless spell from Akash confirmed.
Nonetheless, the door was opened for India by offspinner Washington Sundar, who had been introduced into the aspect instead of Shubman Gill, when Labuschagne picked out mid-off with a skimming drive the ball after a drinks break. Labuschagne threw his head again as Kohli took the catch, understanding the possibility of a primary Check century since final July had gone begging.
Rohit Sharma sensed a second and instantly introduced again Bumrah and towards his third supply Travis Head shouldered arms to at least one that clipped his off stump. A batter who has triggered India nightmares together with his attacking strokeplay departed not providing a shot. In Bumrah’s subsequent over Mitchell Marsh, having slotted away one thumping cowl drive, edged an expansive pull to proceed what has been a lean sequence after the summer season of his life in 2023-24.
As the bottom rose for the hats-off commemoration of Shane Warne at 3.50pm (to match Warne’s Check cap quantity), Smith had slotted consecutive boundaries off Jadeja when Australia seemed to be taking management however now his presence was important in making certain the innings did not lose its manner. He and Carey added 53 earlier than Akash produced a terrific supply from around the wicket. Smith remained agency and walked off to heat applause from those that remained of an 87,242 crowd nevertheless it was nothing in comparison with the ovations earlier within the day.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
