Wonderkid Sam Konstas blitzes his first Test with a big bump along the way
Did Sam Konstas live up to the hype on Test debut? There’s more fanfare after his innings than before it. He played strokes you might otherwise only attempt while tipsy in the backyard.
If this is the future of Australian cricket … count me in.
Sam Konstas’s lavishly creative, combative, fearless and abundantly skilful debut Test innings of 60 unveiled a luminous shooting star and consigned the textbook to the scrap heap.
The 19-year-old Sydneysider put his name up in lights and got under India’s skin with a new-age, whirlwind knock of 60 from 65 balls that sparked immediate Australian dominance in the fourth Test, in front of 87,242 enraptured spectators at the MCG.
“It’s quite surreal,” Konstas said in an on-field interview during his innings.
“Look at the turnout. I’m just trying to play with some freedom and back myself.”
How to describe the nearly indescribable? Wham-bam Sam was like Alfred E. Neumann from the old Mad magazine. What, me worry?
He stared and sneered at bowlers – feeling lucky, punk? – while ignoring the traditional and sometimes laborious Test opener’s philosophy of survival at all costs. He was so aggressive and dominant that India veteran Virat Kohli committed the cardinal sin of making physical contact in a desperate attempt to disrupt the young fella’s daredevil momentum.
Kohli behaved like a pork chop. Now, I’m unsure what the punishment is for acting like a pork chop in a Test, particularly when you’re a vegetarian, but Kohli deserves disciplinary action, possibly suspension from the fifth Test in Sydney, for his crass and cringe-worthy deed.
He changed course while walking between overs to bump shoulders with the teenager. It’s one of cricket’s greatest and ugliest no-nos. You can verbally pester a batter but you cannot touch him. Kohli bunged it on about Konstas being to blame, but every replay indicated the Indian was guilty of pork-choppery.
“Whatever happens on the field stays on the field,” said Konstas, who has previously described Kohli as his favourite player.
“But I love competing and it doesn’t get any better for a debut.”
His Harlem Globetrotter exhibition helped Australia get off to a flyer at 2-237.
The hosts slipped to a less formidable 6-311 at stumps, retaining the upper hand even if the grip was loosened a smidge with the cheap dismissal of Mitch Marsh (four) and a rare failure from Travis Head (0).
Marnus Labuschagne (72), Steve Smith (68no) and Usman Khawaja (57) made important if less intoxicating contributions than Konstas.
The teenager’s supernova start was tempered by India taking 3-9, and 4-32, in the final session as the visitors muscled up in a more admirable fashion than Kohli had done.
His unsporting act was the ultimate compliment for Konstas. Proof he was making his presence felt inside the first hour of his Test career.
“I think the emotions got to both of us,” Konstas said. “I didn’t quite realise (what was happening). I was doing my gloves. A little shoulder charge. It happens in cricket.”
Heart pounding, blood pumping, eyes wide, feet aflutter, fingertips twitching, motioning to the crowd for louder and louder roars, which he received on cue, the conductor of a great sporting orchestra, Konstas appeared to forget who and where he was.
A debutant who should have been intimidated by the bullring of the MCG. He could have been a lamb to a slaughter, a deer in blinding headlights, frightened by the possibility of failure, riddled by self-doubts – but he was good to his pre-match vow to have a bit of fun.
After giggling during the national anthem like life was too good to be true, he played strokes you might otherwise only attempt while tipsy in the backyard.
Facing India’s Jasprit Bumrah, the most feared fast bowler in the world, Konstas launched into audacious ramp, reverse sweep and scoop shots that sailed over the wicketkeeper’s head.
If sport is entertainment, athletes such as Konstas are the business, staring daggers at the opposition, sticking their chests out, giving a bit of lip, complementing skill with heavenly flair. Long may he be granted the freedom to play this way.
Even a mid-innings interview was entertaining for the sheer cheekiness of it. He sledged Bumrah on live television.
Australia’s batters have mostly been running scared of the Indian danger man this summer, but Konstas wanted him to keep bowling: “I’ll look to keep targeting him and hopefully he might come back on.”
Later in his dream day, Konstas added of his ramp shots: “It wasn’t the plan. I was going to play good cricket shots, but Bumrah’s obviously a world-class bowler and I was just trying to put pressure on him and change his tactics. That was the key thing.”
Did Konstas live up to the hype? There’s more fanfare after his innings than before it.
The fearlessness of youth is a quality you cannot buy and only rarely beat, and thrice in one over he flicked Bumrah to the boundary with trick shots worthy of a snooker table. Even Bumrah laughed until he realised it wasn’t especially funny for the tourists.
Konstas brought up his charismatic half-century in 52 balls, acknowledging the Australian emblem on his shirt, saluting his teammates, and no doubt the selectors who rolled the dice on his inclusion.
He pointed his bat at the name on the back of his shirt, KONSTAS, as if encouraging us to get used to it before the masses groaned in disappointment at a development nobody saw coming. His dismissal.
“A little nod to the Konstas family,” he said of his celebration. “All the sacrifices they’ve made for me to be here, just a little reward to give back to them. I actually had goosebumps when I raised my bat. everyone’s encouraging me. It’s a great atmosphere here and a special moment for my family.”
Don’t get the wrong impression of the rookie they call Sammy. He’s no reckless slogger.
His game is built around pure and proper cricket strokes. It just so happened that he brought out more trick shots than Eddie Charlton to introduce himself to the masses.
He might only have displayed more flair by flicking Bumrah for six while standing on his head.
It’s probably too easy and lazy to liken his attacking, whamming, bamming, see-ball, hit-ball approach to England’s famous Bazball, but let’s do it anyway.
If Sammyball is where Australian cricket is heading … we’re all in for a cheerful, intriguing and breathtaking ride.
“It was a bit of a blur, but a dream come true,” Konstas said after his standing ovation. “A full stadium, the boys have been very welcoming. It feels like home.”
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