Sam Konstas has opened up about his much-talked about altercation with Indian star Jasprit Bumrah during the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground last week.
Facing some of the game's biggest stars like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah can be intimidating for any player, especially for a 19-year-old on his debut. However, Sam Constas showed he was no ordinary 19-year-old as he rose to the occasion.
After becoming the youngest batsman to open the innings for Australia in Tests, the right-handed batsman stunned the cricketing world by smashing a quick fifty. Jasprit Bumrah took it to the cleaners as he scored 60 runs off 65 balls in his first ever Test outing.
However, the focus soon shifted from Sam Konstas' knock to his altercations with the Indian players, especially Kohli and Bumrah. During the Melbourne Test, Kohli bore him before getting embroiled in a verbal war with Bumrah during the fifth Test.
At the end of the second day, Constas decided to give Bumrah a flogging. As the Indian spearhead was preparing to deliver the ball, Konstas, while standing at the non-striker's end, said something to the bowler.
Bumrah, who rarely loses his temper on the field, did not look happy at all and lunged at Konstas while saying something in a dramatic manner. The referee quickly intervened and controlled the situation. The Indian star had the last laugh when he dismissed Usman Khawaja on the next ball before turning towards Konstas and giving him a death stare.
Sam Constas talks about his altercation with Jasprit Bumrah:
Even though it was Sam Konstas who started it all in the Sydney Test, Jasprit Bumrah has faced criticism from several quarters. Many felt that the old man should have ignored the young man. However, the young Australian has now admitted it was his mistake.
Konstas also admitted that Khawaja was deliberately wasting time before crediting Bumrah with taking the wicket.
“Oh, I wasn't too upset. Unfortunately, Uzi got out. He was trying to buy some time a little bit. Maybe it was my fault, but it happens. It's cricket. Credit to Bumrah. He got the wicket, but obviously a great performance from the team,” Sam Constas told Triple M.
Meanwhile, Australia clinched the five-match series 3-1 to end their decade-long wait for a back-to-back win over India. They have not won a Test series against India since the 2014/15 season. The landslide victory also helped them book a place in the World Test Championship final for the second time in a row.
They will face South Africa in the final scheduled for June this year. Before that, Australia are also scheduled to play two more Tests in the ongoing World Trade Center tournament. They will face Sri Lanka in their final assignment in the ongoing tournament.