IND vs AUS: Australia was poised to bat first on the healthy MCG track, as young debutant Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja took guard of the wicket. Tensions flared and arguments intensified after young Konstas gave it back to the Indian bowlers in the opening session of the Boxing Day test.
During such a confrontation, Indian veteran Virat Kohli shoulder-bumped Sam Konstas during the first session, while they were also seen engaging in a verbal spat that was interrupted by the umpire early on.
Australians seemed to have relished picking the 19-year-old Sam Konstas over Nathan McSweeney, as the young man pulled off a flying start for the hosts. The youngster is unstoppable; batting dominance did not spare even the world’s finest pace sensation, Jasprit Bumrah.
Konstas not only took Bumrah for runs but also smashed him for a six with a reverse ramp shot, resulting in the first six off Bumrah after 4483 balls. With Konstas on the crease, Australia was going over 4.5 runs per over, as the two openers posed a partnership of 89 runs for the first wicket.
Kohli smashed into Konstas’ shoulder while passing by the debutant, which displeased the batter and led to a verbal confrontation between the two players. Fellow opener Khawaja was seen with his hands around Kohli’s shoulder, which implies a friendly gesture. When neither of the two seemed to move out, umpires eventually intervened.
During this, Ponting, the former skipper who was in the commentary box, slammed the veteran cricketer for his behavior towards a newbie making his debut in international cricket.
“Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said on Channel Seven.
“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together.
“It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late; he wouldn’t even know anyone was in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer.”
Konstas, after the confrontation, became the second youngest Australian batter to have scored a test half-century on debut. His magnificent innings ended for 60 off just 65 balls as Jadeja trapped him in front of the wicket, plumb LBW.
The ICC is over to review some angles of the confrontation between Konstas and Kohli and act accordingly, just like they did over Siraj and Head’s send-off at the Adelaide.
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