It is uncommon to see a newcomer bat as boldly as Sam Konstas of Australia did to score a 52-ball half-century against India on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, with some excitingly T20-styled shots unleashed early in the innings to bring nervous pacers, more so Jasprit Bumrah, in line. When Kohli saw Konstas batting in sixth gear, he attempted to get into his head in the middle. Kohli, however, seemed to have also given an initial shoulder bump to Konstas hoping to unbalance the 19-year-old batter in first session.
Kohli has had an altercation with Konstas in the middle becoming hot and heavy enough for other players and umpires to get involved in it. Despite this irritating attempt by the former Indian captain, the Australian opener minded nothing of it and continued swinging his bat with the same ferocity to record his first half-century.
Konstas became the fourth youngest Test debutant ever for Australia as he was given his baggy green cap by former Aussie skipper Mark Taylor at the age of 19 years and 85 days on Thursday.
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated moment on the MCG. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
Ian Craig is the front-runner in that he played his first test match for the Australians in 1953 at age 17 years 239 days. Skipper Pat Cummins ranks second, debuting at 18 years and 193 days old in 2011. Third place is Tom Garrett and Clem Hill stands in fifth place on the chart.
Konastas shone while competing for the Prime Minister’s XI in a two-day match against the visiting Indians after the Perth Test when he scored a century against the touring side.
In his tally of 11 first-class matches, Konstas motored through 718 runs at an average of 42.2, with two centuries and three half-centuries in his kitty.
Currently in the ongoing Sheffield Shield season, Konstas is the fifth-highest run-getter with 471 runs in five matches at an average of 58.87, two centuries, and a fifty, his best score being 152.
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