Young Sam Konstas will gradually come to understand the beauty and vagaries of Test cricket, just as Jasprit Bumrah demonstrated to him in the second essay of the Boxing Day Test, after the debutant's fiery first innings fifty, feels former Australian opener Simon Katich . Katich, who played 56 Tests for Australia between 2001 and 2010, wants Konstas to maintain his unconventional batting style as no one expects a 19-year-old to be a finished product.
“It looks difficult and there will always be a hype when you see a 19-year-old debut because he is in rare company at his age,” Katich told PTI during an interview.
Konstas scored 60 off 65 balls in the first innings. He hit a conventional round scoop for the maximum and pulled a reverse round scoop behind square against Bumrah before walking down the track and hitting a six over mid-wicket in one over.
However, the world's best fast bowler in contemporary times bowled a perfect off-cutter to clean up the debutant for 8 in the second innings.
“What we saw from him in the first innings at the MCG was incredible courage given the circumstances he faced and the challenge of playing against arguably the best bowler in the series – Jasprit Bumrah.
“Yes, he found a way to counter it with the ramp shot. It was unconventional, but we know the game is played differently now.” “In the second innings, Konstas saw that Test cricket is not going to be easy. Conditions are always changing and you have to deal with Bumrah.
“Given that he is only 19, no one expects him to be a finisher. He still has a lot to learn and gain experience, but he clearly has potential and talent,” said the left-hander, who scored 10 Test hundreds for Australia, including a couple against India.” Finding traces of David Warner in Konstas' aggression, Katich believes the similarity with the just-retired southpaw ends with temperament and game plan.
“There are certainly aspects of temperament and game plan, modern thinking, but style-wise he is a very different type of player to Warner as Konstas is much bigger. He can run at the bowler, down the track and scare them off at length.
“I'm not saying Warner can't do that, just different types of players, but he has to try to be himself throughout his career.”
Time for selectors to think beyond Marsh
Katich agrees that if Mitchell Marsh does not contribute with the ball, the Australian national selection panel should look at the combination given the all-rounder's poor results with the bat.
“Marsh is undoubtedly under pressure because he is not bowling as much. Even after Josh Hazlewood got injured, he only bowled two overs on a day when Cummins and Starc had to share the workload.” “There were questions, he then missed with the bat at the MCG and has not been able to fulfill the role with the ball. The selectors have to make a decision at the end of this Test.”
Speaking of unreliable back Mitchell Starc and a possible replacement, Katich believes it will be backup Jhye Richardson or Sean Abbott.
However, he marked tall left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson as a future contender, provided he continues to bowl extensively for South Australia.
“If they are consistent, guys who have come in as cover, Jhye Richardson or Sean Abbott, will be in the mix. Spencer Johnson is playing in the Big Bash League and coming back from a toe injury. It is one thing to bowl four overs. ” in BBL and bowling, 22 to 25 overs in a test match is completely different and is backed up day by day.
“Something they (the coaching staff) will know better in terms of workload and management. I really think Spencer is a potential Test player. He has skills and ability but he needs to play more games (Sheffield Shield) for South Australia.”
Bumrah is now the best fast bowler
Having played a significant amount of cricket against India, Katich considers Jasprit Bumrah to be one of the best overseas pacers to have traveled Down Under in the last two decades.
“Undoubtedly, of all the players I have seen or played against over the last twenty years, Bumrah's figures speak for themselves. One that got to Alex Carey, the ball flew back, his stumps knocked over was an absolute beauty. Young Konstas got a who came back and hit the top of middle, great control and skills to work out batsmen.” When asked what makes Bumrah special, Katich said: “Great pace. Yes, it has unique action. The fact that he gets movement in both directions and hits length and an area at will.
“He has great control, yorker, bouncer, length and lines of adjustment, whether he is looking to get an LBW or bowling into the channel to get an outside edge, backed up by his pace.”
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