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Konstas is looking forward to the Bumrah challenge © Getty
Australia's latest Test addition Sam Konstas is gearing up for the challenge of facing the world's best bowler in the format Jasprit Bumrah for the first time, should he get into the playing XI for the upcoming Boxing Day Test in MCG. The 19-year-old was brought into the squad at the expense of fellow opener Nathan McSweeney.
Konstas is brimming with confidence but admitted he won't overburden himself with footage of the Indian pacer. Though he had an excellent outing against India in the pink-ball practice match for the Prime Ministers' XI in Canberra before the Adelaide Test, he did not get to face Bumrah who sat that fixture out. The MCG game will be his first face-off against a bowler who is currently averaging 10.90 this series and has 21 wickets in three Tests - seven more than the second bowler on the list. 10 of those 21 wickets have been of the designated top-three of Australia - McSweeney, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne. Mitchell Marsh remains the only batter in Australia's top-six to have not been dismissed by Bumrah this series so far.
"I won't watch too much [of Bumrah]," Konstas said. "I have already seen him a lot. But I am excited to challenge myself and face him. Usually, our analysts do a little feedback on each bowler. I might read that, maybe."
Konstas was in the running alongside McSweeney before the start of the series as he also got runs for Australia A in the lead-up to the senior team's series. McSweeney was preferred then but having not got a big score in three Tests, chief selector rang in the change in the hope of throwing something different at India, with the series on an even keel at 1-1.
Konstas will carry with him the confidence of getting runs recently in the Sheffield Shield, and hoped to look at the MCG fixture as 'just another game'.
"I'm super confident," he said. "Just backing my skills, I have done all the hard work. Just another game, I guess, and trying to keep it simple. As a kid you have always dreamt of the moment, and it is very rare, getting your baggy green. So it's a huge honour if I do get in."
While the youngster is keeping his emotions in check, the Konstas household indulged a little over family dinner after the announcement of his inclusion to the squad was made.
"It was all a bit unexpected, but very privileged to get the opportunity," Konstas said. "I just had dinner with the family [to celebrate], pretty chilled. It was emotional, mum was crying ... Everything has happened so fast," Konstas said.
"Mum and dad and my brothers, all their sacrifices, taking me to training, throwing me balls, experiencing the journey through highs and lows. Just to give something back to them was very special. I can't wait to have them in Melbourne for support," he added.
Australia's latest Test addition Sam Konstas is gearing up for the challenge of facing the world's best bowler in the format Jasprit Bumrah for the first time, should he get into the playing XI for the upcoming Boxing Day Test in MCG. The 19-year-old was brought into the squad at the expense of fellow opener Nathan McSweeney.
Konstas is brimming with confidence but admitted he won't overburden himself with footage of the Indian pacer. Though he had an excellent outing against India in the pink-ball practice match for the Prime Ministers' XI in Canberra before the Adelaide Test, he did not get to face Bumrah who sat that fixture out. The MCG game will be his first face-off against a bowler who is currently averaging 10.90 this series and has 21 wickets in three Tests - seven more than the second bowler on the list. 10 of those 21 wickets have been of the designated top-three of Australia - McSweeney, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne. Mitchell Marsh remains the only batter in Australia's top-six to have not been dismissed by Bumrah this series so far.
"I won't watch too much [of Bumrah]," Konstas said. "I have already seen him a lot. But I am excited to challenge myself and face him. Usually, our analysts do a little feedback on each bowler. I might read that, maybe."
Konstas was in the running alongside McSweeney before the start of the series as he also got runs for Australia A in the lead-up to the senior team's series. McSweeney was preferred then but having not got a big score in three Tests, chief selector rang in the change in the hope of throwing something different at India, with the series on an even keel at 1-1.
Konstas will carry with him the confidence of getting runs recently in the Sheffield Shield, and hoped to look at the MCG fixture as 'just another game'.
"I'm super confident," he said. "Just backing my skills, I have done all the hard work. Just another game, I guess, and trying to keep it simple. As a kid you have always dreamt of the moment, and it is very rare, getting your baggy green. So it's a huge honour if I do get in."
While the youngster is keeping his emotions in check, the Konstas household indulged a little over family dinner after the announcement of his inclusion to the squad was made.
"It was all a bit unexpected, but very privileged to get the opportunity," Konstas said. "I just had dinner with the family [to celebrate], pretty chilled. It was emotional, mum was crying ... Everything has happened so fast," Konstas said.
"Mum and dad and my brothers, all their sacrifices, taking me to training, throwing me balls, experiencing the journey through highs and lows. Just to give something back to them was very special. I can't wait to have them in Melbourne for support," he added.