Key posts
Poll: Konstas v Bumrah, who was right, who was wrong?
All guns blazing or holstered: How will Konstas play?
‘Conscious, talking, possible fractures’: Update after horror BBL collision
A bit of news late last night after Sydney Thunder players Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were injured in awful collision in the field against Perth Scorchers over in the west.
Sams was taken from the field on a medi-cab while Bancroft was able to groggily walk off, but it was one of the worst impacts we’ve seen on a cricket field – shades of Jason Gillespie and Steve Waugh in all sorts in Sri Lanka back in 1999, when Gillespie ended up with a badly broken leg.
A Thunder statement confirmed both were taken to hospital and after initial assessments, the pair were “conscious and talking, demonstrating symptoms of concussion and have possible fractures”.
Fingers crossed for the pair and we’ll likely get more info throughout the day.
Pant: ‘They wanted to waste some time’
By Tom Decent
India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant accused Sam Konstas and Australia of time-wasting after a tense final over at the SCG in which Jasprit Bumrah exchanged words with the 19-year-old on a dramatic finish to Friday’s play.
A day that started with India winning the toss and batting ended with the visitors’ star fast bowler staring down Australia’s young gun after dismissing Usman Khawaja with the last ball before stumps.
Scott Boland’s four-wicket haul had given Australia the upper hand before a dramatic final few minutes set the scene for day two.
After becoming the youngest Australian to play a Test at the SCG, Konstas again showed his fearless approach by charging down the wicket at Bumrah on the first ball of Australia’s innings.
Bumrah, who posed for a photo with Konstas’ parents in the presence of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Kirribilli House on Wednesday evening, again didn’t take kindly to the teenager’s brash approach.
India’s strike weapon looked annoyed at Konstas for what he believed were time-wasting tactics as scheduled stumps time of 6pm (AEDT) approached.
Konstas didn’t take a backwards step, exchanging words with Bumrah in a confrontation that sent the large SCG crowd wild.
When Bumrah had Khawaja caught in the slips off the final ball of the day, the veteran turned in Konstas’ direction and appeared to give him a mouthful. Following the dismissal of Khawaja, several India players, including Bumrah and Virat Kohli, were quick to remonstrate with Konstas.
Khawaja’s dismissal left Australia 1-9 at stumps, with Konstas unbeaten on seven.
“They [Konstas and Khawaja] wanted to waste some time,” Pant told reporters after play. “I feel that’s the reason he had a conversation with Jasprit. He said something, I didn’t hear it. But I feel that’s the only thing he wanted to do, just waste some time so we didn’t bowl one more over.”
Read Tom Decent’s full report of day one here.
Poll: Konstas v Bumrah, who was right, who was wrong?
The forecast: Sweet, sweet sunshine
Welcome to day two at the SCG
Morning one, morning all,
Welcome to day two of the SCG Test, where Australia holds a commanding position and local teen Sam Konstas is preparing to take on a nation of 1.3 billion people.
Scott Boland’s four wickets and a fine all-round performance from Australia’s attack shot India out for 185 yesterday on a helpful green pitch.
Battle lines: Umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat gestures to Jasprit Bumrah, as he exchanges words with Sam Konstas after play ended on Friday.Credit: AP
But it was Konstas’s stink with Jasper Bumrah before Usman Khawaja nicked off to the final delivery of the day that set this contest alight, and set us up for a fascinating morning session.
Konstas chirped, Bumrah thundered and everyone ran around a little bit cranky – fine theatre or a bit too much?
Either way, we’re on for act two from 10.30am AEDT. Dan Brettig and Tom Decent are along for the ride with expert analysis, I’ll be gibbering in the meantime. Look lovely folks, it’s Test cricket.
Australia 1-9: Konstas 7* Labuschagne 0*, trail India by 176 runs
