Aussie coach accuses India of 'intimidation' towards Sam Konstas as tensions escalate in Test
Share:
Andrew McDonald has accused India of trying to intimidate teenager Sam Konstas, with Australia's coach claiming the ICC have set a benchmark by not punishing the tourists. McDonald revealed on Saturday evening he moved to check on Konstas' welfare on Friday night, after his on-field spat with India captain Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth-and-deciding Test at the SCG.
![[The Indian team surrounded the youngster after claiming the wicket of Usman Khawaja to end the opening day of the Test]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/21/93743283-14250549-image-a-2_1736024750061.jpg)
Of particular concern to McDonald was the fact several Indian players ran to celebrate in Konstas' face after Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja on the last ball of day one. The incident came after Virat Kohli was fined 20 per cent of his match fee in Melbourne on Boxing Day, after making unnecessary contact with the opener between overs.
![[Sam Konstas exchanged barbs with Jasprit Bumrah in a heated end to day one of the fifth Test]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/21/93743285-14250549-image-a-3_1736024769710.jpg)
Asked if he felt the needed to speak to Konstas about the on-field exchange with Bumrah, McDonald said he only did so to check on the 19-year-old. 'My conversation to him was just around whether he was okay,' McDonald said. Andrew McDonald (pictured) has accused India of trying to intimidate teenager Sam Konstas.
![[Konstas has clearly got under India's skin in his first two Tests]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/21/93743307-14250549-image-a-4_1736024779140.jpg)
The Indian team surrounded the youngster after claiming the wicket of Usman Khawaja to end the opening day of the Test. 'Clearly the way that India celebrated that it was quite intimidating. It's clearly within the rules and regulations of the game, as there have been no charges laid.
![[McDonald said that he has checked in on Konstas since the incident]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/21/93743431-14250549-image-a-5_1736024835348.jpg)
'To have an opposition to swarm the non-striker like that, we have a duty of care to make sure he is okay and in a headspace to go out the next day and perform.'. Asked whether he felt India had taken it too far by running towards Konstas, McDonald suggested a precedent had been set.
