BGT 2024-25: Sam Konstas creates an Australian record on test debut at the MCG with 52-ball fifty

Sam Konstas cracked a blistering half-century on his test debut at the MCG.

Upon receiving his maiden call-up to the test squad and staring at a test debut in the MCG while facing the fearsome Jasprit Bumrah, Sam Konstas had said that he would “back myself and be fearless” and try to “put pressure back on the bowlers.”

Konstas had revealed his modus operandi already but perhaps the Indian team management didn’t pay much heed to a 19-year-old’s words.

Both of it came to the fore as Konstas hammered a 52-ball half-century while the Indian bowlers, including the great Bumrah, ran out of plans and were left searching for answers to the questions they hadn’t expected.

After Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first in the fourth BGT 2024-25 test, Bumrah started off by bowling two maidens in his first three overs. However, from thereon, it was mayhem as Konstas brought aggression and BBL vibes to the Boxing Day test.

Especially, his takedown of Bumrah, the best bowler of the series and the best pacer in the world, was utterly jaw-dropping. The youngster clattered Bumrah for a 14-run over and an 18-run over. Bumrah’s figures went from 3-2-2-0 to 6-2-38-0. Konstas became only the second batsman to hit Bumrah for more than one six in test cricket, with Jos Buttler being the first.

Konstas scooped, reverse-scooped, pulled, cut, and even moved to the legside of the stumps to collect boundaries on the offside. It was quiet a show from a young debutant.

With this, at the age of 19 years and 85 days, Konstas became the second-youngest Australian batsman to hit a fifty in test cricket.

Youngest to score a half-century for Australia in test cricket:

17y 240d Ian Craig vs SA Melbourne 195319y 85d Sam Konstas vs Ind Melbourne 202419y 121d Neil Harvey vs Ind Melbourne 194819y 150d Archie Jackson vs Eng Adelaide 1929

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