MELBOURNE: Australia’s emerging opener Sam Konstas on Monday, claimed that he has plans to combat Indian bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah on his potential debut in the Boxing Day Test.
Konstas replaced Nathan McSweeney in Australia’s squad for the remaining two Tests against India after the latter failed to impress in the first three fixtures, scoring 72 runs at a dismal average of 14.40 and the highest score of just 39.
The 19-year-old opener, while speaking to the reporters here on Monday, said that he has ideas to counter in-form Bumrah, who has taken 21 wickets in the ongoing series.
“I do, I’m not going to say what it is, just trying to put pressure back on the bowlers,” he said, adding he’s looking at it as just another game of cricket.
“Pretty simple, just back myself and see-ball, hit-ball really.”
“I don’t get too fazed, I think every opportunity I get, I’m just trying to put my best foot forward and score runs,” he said, adding that his mentor Shane Watson has already given him some advice: “Just another day at it, back myself and be fearless.”
Konstas’s New South Wales (NSW) teammate Sean Abbott, who is also a part of Australia’s squad as an injury back-up, echoed the opener’s remarks, stating that it does not bother him who is he playing against.
“If he gets the chance to play, turn the stump mics up when he’s in at short leg, because he’s got some good bantz [banter],” he said. “He’s a funny young kid, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes about it.”
“It does not bother him who he’s coming up against,” Abbott said. “The other day we were playing against Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb, who’ve got a fair bit of experience. He was pretty unfazed and I’d imagine, should he get the opportunity [in Melbourne], it’d be pretty similar.”
Australia squad for the fourth and fifth Test against India:
Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
- Jasprit Bumrah
