Sam Konstas makes debut to remember as Australia edge India on day one
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It has been a tour of polygraphic variation for India’s Test team. Down and out to begin in Perth, becoming ascendant by the end. Back to the bottom in Adelaide, dragging themselves out of trouble in Brisbane to finish the draw there on a high. But starting the fourth Test in Melbourne, right in the series at 1-1, was the first time the Indians have looked completely at a loss.
![[Umpire Michael Gough speaks with Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas as tempers fray at the MCG]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8c7acddccc987b821d1de43b5773c871201170a1/0_0_4464_2976/master/4464.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
It’s not that nobody has ever batted aggressively in Tests. Gilbert Jessop, David Hookes, Sanath Jayasuriya, Rishabh Pant, most of England’s current lineup – plenty have had their shot. It’s not that nobody has ever played a scoop shot to Jasprit Bumrah in a Test – ask Joe Root, who soon found it didn’t work out so well.
What is unique with Sam Konstas is a combination of factors: to be on debut, in front of a full MCG, facing a world-leading fast bowler whose series so far reads 21 wickets at 10, while at an age two years short of being able to buy a whisky sour in Kentucky, and still having the stones to play that shot from the 11th ball of your Test career. Then when it fails, play it again. And when that fails, again. And again. And again, as it begins to succeed.
Perhaps that is the genius in picking a 19-year-old: less about courage, more about that spongy pre-frontal cortex, home to an as-yet undeveloped sense of risk. Perhaps only a teenager would be game to take on that situation. Perhaps only a teenager would be forgiven if it had failed. Or perhaps the tactic made sense. Bumrah started the day with as good a first over as you’ll see. At pace, the ball moving outrageously off the seam to beat Konstas on the outside edge: once, twice, thrice, whatever the word is for four times.
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