Coach slams Indian team’s ‘disgraceful’ treatment of Sam Konstas
One of Australia’s leading coaches has ripped into India’s treatment of Sam Konstas as he prepares for his BBL return.
Batting phenom Sam Konstas has been tipped to thrive for many years to come on the international stage after the teenager was forced to deal with a “disgraceful act” from the touring Indian players in just his second Test match at the SCG.
NSW coach Greg Shipperd has called out the Indian team for their over-reaction last week that he says “should have been punished”.
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Konstas’s bravado ruffled the Indians, with Virat Kohli shouldering him in Melbourne while Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah had a running MCG battle with the 19-year-old.
Bumrah and his teammates also got in the Sydneysider’s face following a dramatic final over where Konstas had words with the quick before he dismissed Usman Khawaja.
Shipperd has backed Konstas to move on ahead of the Sri Lankan tour, where he will do well to maintain his early Test strike rate of 81.
“I don’t know if he thrives on it. I think it surprised him,” Shipperd said when asked about the Bumrah altercation.
“I think it was a disgraceful act and should have been punished far more severely than it was.
“He or the circumstance got under the skin of Jasprit and the team response was super aggressive towards him.
“I think he’ll walk through that and look forward to his next opportunity in Sri Lanka.”
Opening partner Khawaja described Konstas on the ABC as the most arrogant yet endearing person he’s met, with his NSW coach praising Konstas’s ability to problem solve the challenges in front of him with bold tactics.
“You could have straight-batted and forward-defended and tried your luck that way, but that may not have worked,” Shipperd told SEN.
“Sam has taken the really aggressive route, which was to play some shots that we would go ‘that’s T20 cricket’, but that was his form of problem solving in the moment.
“It could be described as ‘chaotic’ by a lot of people, but I think over time that we and he and the rest of the people around him will add the craftsmanship to that particular approach.
“We’ve started a player off and he’s going to be around for a long time. I wouldn’t have used the word ‘arrogant’ to describe him in any way, shape or form.
“He’s just a brilliant young man who is loving the game, playing the game and responding to the challenges in the moment.
“How can you criticise people who play with a smile on their face? I don’t understand that.”
Konstas and Test squad members, Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson and Beau Webster have been made available for the remainder of the BBL home-and-away season after the completion of the fiery five-match Test series, while Steve Smith will play three matches for the Sixers starting on January 11 against Perth.
Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne will be also available for the Heat’s final home game on January 16.
But Cricket Australia ruled a line through Scott Boland, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, spin star Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc due to workload issues ahead of the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.
“A five-Test match series is gruelling and this was amplified by the intensity of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” CA executive general manager national teams Ben Oliver said.
“We have worked with each player to form individualised plans which will best support recovery from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and preparation for upcoming international commitments.”
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Konstas returns having hit a record-breaking half-century in his BBL debut prior to his Test selection and his availability is huge for the Thunder, who had to call up 41-year-old Dan Christian following a sickening collision in the field between Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams.
The young opener is expected to play in the Thunder’s home game on Wednesday night against the Hurricanes just days after he got Australia’s run chase off to a blistering start in the Sydney Test.
His attacking style has attracted some criticism, but it’s hard to fault someone who is willing to take on Bumrah with such confidence.
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