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Konstas stuns on debut, Bumrah leads counter-punch

3 minute read

Australian teenager Sam Konstas made an astonishing Test debut before Indian star Jasprit Bumrah led the tourists' fightback on day one at the MCG

SAM KONSTAS.
SAM KONSTAS. Picture: Getty Images

AUSTRALIA V INDIA: Day one of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG:

SCORE: Australia 6-311 after winning the toss

SUMMARY: Teenager Sam Konstas set the early agenda with his astonishing innings of 60 from 65 balls, driving the Indians to distraction with ramp shots off Jasprit Bumrah. Fiery star Virat Kohli is in trouble after bumping shoulders with Konstas in a mid-pitch incident. Fellow opener Usman Khawaja also made a welcome return to form with 57 and Marnus Labuschagne scored 72. Australia were in control at 2-237 after tea before Bumrah - who else - led the Indian counter-punch by bowling Travis Head for a duck and also dismissing Mitch Marsh cheaply. The day-two fortunes of Steve Smith (68no) will be crucial.

THE MOMENT: Konstas had the MCG stunned when he tried his first ramp shot off Bumrah before he'd scored his first Test run. He later used the shot to score two fours and a six off the Indian great in one astonishing over.

THE PLAYER: For all Konstas's heroics, Bumrah again delivered for India when it mattered. His dismissals of Head and Marsh reduced Australia to 5-246 in the furnace conditions and meant it was not the dominant day the home side might have expected.

THE STATS: Konstas brought up his 50 from 52 balls - the third-fastest half-century by an Australian in his Test debut. The crowd of 87,242 is a single-day record for Australia v India Tests in Australia.

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