Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson expects teenager Sam Konstas to continue his aggressive approach to batting in the New Year’s Test against India at the SCG.
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TALKING POINTS: Lesson fiery Konstas must learn fast; Kohli’s surprise Aussie kryptonite
The right-hander became a household name last week following his whirlwind 60 off 65 balls during the Boxing Day Test, which included a trio of ramped boundaries against Indian quick Bumrah.
To prevent a repeat of his MCG blitz, India placed a boundary rider at deep third for Konstas on day one of the Sydney Test, leaving one less player for him to handle in the ring.
Tasked with surviving 15 minutes before stumps, Konstas didn’t shy away from playing his shots, charging at Bumrah and flicking the Indian quick’s first delivery through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Unfazed by the circumstances, Konstas’ aggression offered another fascinating glimpse into the mind of the batting prodigy, who continues heaping pressure on opposition bowlers early in his knock.
Australia v India 5th Test, Day 1 review | 10:01
“He will certainly be putting the pressure on the bowler,” Watson, who has mentored Konstas for several years on his batting and mental side of the game, told reporters at the SCG on Thursday,
“We saw the impact it had for the rest of the other batters. It just freed those more senior batters up to go, ‘You know what? We just have to let go and not be worried about getting out’. Sam was that personified with the way he batted.
“Sam will trust what he feels and go with it.”
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Watson continued: “The one thing that we’ve always talked about is trusting his gut.
“Obviously after those first couple of overs of Bumrah weaving his magic (at the MCG), he felt, ‘If I am going to bat normally, it’s a matter of time before he gets me out’.
“So he obviously just went with what he felt and fully committed to it. That takes a lot of courage.
“It just shows that he’s built for this stage. Most people it takes a bit of time to warm up to get into that, whereas Sam just thrives on that.”
During the final over of day one, Konstas became embroiled in a heated exchange with Bumrah, forcing the umpires to intervene. The Indian captain got the last laugh by removing Australian opener Usman Khawaja on the last delivery of the day.
Konstas has quickly become renowned for his confidence and on-field antics, which included chirping at opposition batters and riling up the crowd.
“My experience of dealing and working with Sam has been a very quiet, reserved personality. (He’s a) very deep thinker and certainly not an extrovert,” Watson continued.
“But obviously, what we saw in the Test match is that he absolutely is a showman, and he certainly rose to the occasion. He wasn’t overawed.
“I know through my experience of debuting, you really do sort of go inside (your shell). For Sam, it’s superhuman in a way that he didn’t have any of that. That wasn’t put on. That’s who he is. I hadn’t seen that.”
Australia was 1-9 at stumps on day one, with Konstas unbeaten on 7, still trailing by 176 runs.
The fifth Test between Australia resumes at 10.30am AEDT.
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