Jasprit Bumrah Reflects on Facing Young Star Sam Konstas in Boxing Day Test
Australia’s 19-year-old young star Sam Konstas made a notable debut on the first day of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground. He smashed runs all across the ground in Jasprit Bumrah’s over, using ramps and reverse scoops. Australia scored 474 runs in the first innings thanks to the 19-year-old’s dominating batting, which helped the other batters settle down.
Speaking about the challenge of bowling against Konstas, the Indian veteran Bumrah said he felt well in control and that it was a novel challenge. The 31-year-old said that he had played enough T20 cricket where the batsman had performed well against him, but against Konstas, he felt like he had controlled the first couple of overs. Bumrah claimed that he could have picked up the opener’s wicket six or seven times in the same time frame.
“I have experienced heaps of it. I have played T20 cricket a lot, more than 12 years of T20 cricket. Interesting batsman as well and I always felt I was in the game. Never felt I was far away from a wicket. Initially, I felt I can get him out six or seven times in the first two overs but that’s how cricket goes. Some Days it pays off, it looks good but some days it doesn’t and then you guys will be criticising the same person. So, that’s how cricket is and I love different challenges and always looking forward to a new challenge,” said Bumrah during an interview.
In the ongoing BGT series, Australia’s veteran batsman Steve Smith scored consecutive hundreds. Smith scored 140 runs in 197 balls at the MCG. Jasprit Bumrah praised him and noted that Smith’s unconventional batting makes bowling to him difficult.
“He has always been a challenge. He’s a little unorthodox, a bit like me when I bowl because he’s not a conventional batter. Someday he’s shuffling, some days he’s not. So, it brings out a new challenge. He scores in different areas of the ground, so you have to be very consistent. It’s always been a challenge. I have had good battles against him in all formats. Obviously, one of the games in this format, he’s difficult to bowl to. He played a great innings,” said Bumrah.