The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is delicately poised at 1-1 after a draw at the Gabba, with India needing just one win from the remaining two matches to retain the coveted prize. However, the Boxing Day Test at the MCG has already delivered a whirlwind of action, courtesy of Australian debutant Sam Konstas and a heated altercation involving Indian superstar Virat Kohli.
Nineteen-year-old Konstas etched his name into Test cricket folklore with a blistering maiden half-century, tearing apart India’s world-class bowling attack.
Unfazed by the occasion, the teenager smashed a fearless 60 off just 52 deliveries, the third-fastest fifty by an Australian debutant, trailing only Adam Gilchrist and Ashton Agar. His audacious ramps, scoops, and slogs left India’s bowlers floundering, with even Jasprit Bumrah conceding his first six in over 4,400 Test deliveries.
The sold-out crowd at the MCG erupted in applause as Konstas walked off, dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja, but the visitors’ woes didn’t end there. Australia closed the second session at 2-176, with Marnus Labuschagne (44*) and Steve Smith (10*) solidifying the hosts’ dominant start after opener Usman Khawaja contributed a composed 57.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is now under pressure to take action against Kohli, with commentators Mark Waugh and Ravi Shastri condemning his behaviour.
“I think there’ll be some sort of suspension or reprimand at least,” Waugh remarked on Fox League, while Shastri called Kohli’s actions “totally unnecessary.”
India will need a breakthrough – and fast – to wrestle back momentum in a match that could define the series.
Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
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