Sam Konstas: Jasprit Bumrah’s passionate celebration shows the place teenager already holds in this series

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Sam Konstas: Jasprit Bumrah’s passionate celebration shows the place teenager already holds in this series

The world’s best fast bowler has never reacted like he did when he dismissed Australia’s teenage debutant Sam Konstas.

Jasprit Bumrah rattled through the defence of Konstas on the morning of day four and ran down the wicket side-stepping and flapping his arms towards a sea of Indian blue in the MCG’s Ponsford Stand.

Konstas’ brief stay on Sunday was not the same event as his swashbuckling show of bravado on the opening day.

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This one, worth eight runs, had signs of the nerves any reasonable 19-year-old would have opening the batting for Australia.

He played and missed a number of times to both Bumrah and Akash Deep, who was trusted with new ball duties ahead of Mohammad Siraj. His only boundary was a top-edge that raced to the boundary behind the wicket-keeper.

It hit the rope at the same spot as his outrageous reverse scoop shots on the opening morning but without the purpose or the mastery.

The New South Wales opener also battled a forearm injury and received attention and strapping from the team physio and doctor.

What Bunrah’s celebration did prove is just how well Australia’s fourth-youngest Test debutant has jumped into this fiery series.

Camera IconJasprit Bumrah passionately celebrated the wicket of Sam Konstas. Credit: ASANKA RATNAYAKE/APCamera IconJasprit Bumrah passionately celebrated the wicket of Sam Konstas. Credit: JAMES ROSS/AAPIMAGE

In just a few days he has got under the skin of the Indian’s including the very composed Bumrah and the legendary Virat Kohli, and has already become a key wicket.

India now know Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith don’t have the platform they had in the first innings to do their own work.

Konstas broke a custom that stood for most of David Warner’s career and through the start of Nathan McSweeney’s, that openers rotate strike for the first ball of each innings.

He raced out to the wicket again as if he was late and told Usman Khawaja not to worry, he was going to stare down Bumrah.

Australia are 1-20 with Labuschagne and Khawaja at the crease after little more than an hour on day four.

They lead by 125 runs after taking the wicket of centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy for 114.

But that was only after a controversial moment where the third umpire took just seconds to rule a Siraj edge not out, despite replays showing it did not hit the ground before carrying to the slips.

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