BGT Test 4: Day one, lunch
Session updates from the MCG
'We want to throw something different at Bumrah,' the Australian coach said in pre-game comments about blooding teen debutant Sam Konstas at the MCG. 'Different', presumably, from the deer-in-the-headlights style that Nathan McSweeney had adopted against Jasprit Bumrah in the first three Tests.
And different we got. When he ended his first spell, India's -- and arguably the cricketing world's -- premier fast bowler had figures of 6-2-38-0, and had suffered the indignity of having five fours and two sixes hit against his new ball spell on a well-grassed pitch under a heavy cloud cover.
Konstas sets up in a half crouch, bat held in a bottom-hand-dominant grip and raised waist high. The right side of his mouth curls up in a seeming sneer. He stands very still, his only visible trigger movement the 'Come on, come on' he mutters as the bowler gets into the load-up. And out of that stillness, he explodes into frenetic action.
As early as the fifth ball of Bumrah's third over, Konstas attempted a reverse scoop and missed; he tried and missed again in the bowler's next over, to nervous noises around the packed MCG and amused smiles from the Indian slip cordon.
The floodgates opened wide in Bumrah's fourth over. To the first ball, Konstas shuffled towards his off stump and flicked a delivery on full length over the head of Rishabh Pant, to the fine leg boundary for four. The next ball was greeted with a reverse scoop for six, this time over the heads of the slip cordon. Two balls later, another reverse scoop, another four -- and the debutant was off and running.
Bumrah's sixth over was, if anything, even more remarkable. To the first ball, Konstas moved back towards his leg stump to make room and smashed a drive through mid off; the fourth ball was picked up and swung over mid on for six; when Bumrah sent down an attempted yorker next ball, Konstas calmly opened the bat face and steered it through backward point for another four.
That last shot was the one that was worth noting -- the Indians had set both third man and fine leg fine to inhibit the flicks and reverse scoops, so Konstas found a more orthodox response. Equally noticeable was the fact that Bumrah lost his line, his length, and his equanimity under the onslaught — not surprising, given that Konstas took him for 34 runs in the 33 balls he faced from India’s premiere strike bowler.
And it wasn't only Bumrah. In the 10th over, Mohammed Siraj gave the opener a mouthful after stopping a pulverising straight drive with his shin. Konstas responded by giving himself room and carving the next ball through point.
At the end of the over, Kohli with obvious deliberation walked into Konstas and gave him a shoulder charge, then got into it when Konstas objected. The youngster was then 27 off 38. The next over, Bumrah's sixth and last of the first spell, disappeared for 18 runs and the Indian fielders were noticeably less inclined to get in Konstas' face at the end of that over.
At the end of the 5th over, Konstas was 2 off 18. The next 34 balls produced 48 runs as the debutant raced to his 50 off 52 deliveries in a score of 71/0 in 13.1 overs.
Less noticed, in that flurry of strokes, was Konstas's hunger. He kept pushing his partner between wickets, and with the Indian fielders forced back on their heels, sneaked a second run repeatedly to get back on strike.
The real value of Konstas' innings though was that it allowed Usman Khawaja to coast along in his slipstream -- and equally, allowed Marnus Labuschagne the luxury of walking out to bat in the 20th over, with a cushion of 90 runs on the board, when Jadeja finally trapped Konstas in front with a ball on fullish length.
Konstas, 60 off 65 with six fours and two sixes, took one of the slowest, most reluctant, walks from pitch to pavilion that I remember seeing from a batsman -- and a packed MCG stood to applaud him through every reluctant step.
Australia went into lunch on 112/1 off 25 overs with Labuschagne on 12 off 12 and Usman Khawaja 38 off 73 -- a good position to be in after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
The only real talking point of the morning session, from an Indian point of view, was the team selection. India opted to go in with two spinners, teaming Jadeja with Washington Sundar — but the surprise was the identity of the player they dropped.
Shubman Gill had debuted at this ground on December 26, 2020 and announced himself with an attractive 45 off 65 in the first innings, following up with 35 not out off 36 balls as India sealed an eight-wicket win.
In this edition of the BGT, Gill has again looked attractive, with his trademark back foot punches and short arm pulls — but his batting philosophy seemed to be ‘easy come, easy go’. Thrice in three Tests he has gotten himself out playing nothing shots at half volleys — like it was all too easy, he couldn’t be bothered working up a sweat.
Being benched will likely do the batsman some good, prompting him to rethink his attitude and put more of a price on his wicket. Meanwhile, his number three slot will in all likelihood be taken by Rohit Sharma.
(More during the tea break.)
Once correction as far as Gill is concerned, it's thrice in 3 innings since he didn't play the 1st test.
The Indian shoulders drop so easily even with the new ball. Bumrah lost his length, slips were about half a metre behind, and how much can Bumrah bowl. Now the big guns are set, and the ball is 40 overs old. As awful as it may sound, but the team hasn't responded as well to Rohit's captaincy. They should have told Ashwin that he is in for Melbourne and Sydney. Something against the run of play or some magic in the field is what looks like the only way for a wicket to fall.