Boxing Day Test live: Sam Konstas set to debut against India in ...

Australia wins the toss and will bat

1 hours agoWed 25 Dec 2024 at 11:03pm

Another loosener to start the over from Siraj and Rishabh Pant manages to wrestle it to the ground.

Short and crushed on the pull by Khawaja. That's his shot. Don't bowl there.

Konstas charges and tries a thrash through the leg side and gets another inside edge. And then a traditional inside edge for a single.

Khawaja guides a ball behind point for two, so Konstas stays on strike for Bumrah.

FOUR!! On the ramp and it just misses going for six.

SIX! THIS TIME THE REVERSE RAMP!!! He's got his eye in now and Bumrah is in a battle he's not used to now.

He charges, Bumrah swings it away from him and Konstas can't reach it.

Followed by a tight leave.

FOUR MORE! The reverse ramp is this kid's cover drive. This is insanity.

And a classic forward defensive to end the over gets the crowd going.

Another one just outside off, then Khawaja edges away to gully in classic Khawaja nailed-to-the-crease fashion.

Khawaja cracks a pull shot through mid-wicket and takes three. That was short and wide and there to be hit.

So Konstas finally gets away from Bumrah. I mean, he doesn't seem to mind, but it's freaking me out.

Half a shout from everyone except Siraj, who goes with a full shout, to a ball going over the stumps and down leg.

He's charged and tried to hit him out the ground, once again missing everything. Siraj has a word.

Sammy hears ya, Sammy don't care. He charges again and flicks off the pads for three more this time.

With respect, who does this kid think he is? Ludicrous shot selection.

- What the heck?

Another wide leave and another unnecessary call of "No" from Konstas.

Oh, Bumrah fires in at his pads and Konstas awkwardly gets squared up and edges away to the off side.

Another attempted reverse ramp! And he's missed it by a foot. That could have been creamed through the covers.

And now he leaves a ball that misses the top of off by a coat of varnish.

Almost bowled him! Finally the big in-swinger is on point and Konstas just barely gets enough bat on it to chunk an edge onto his pads. Big wide gate there for Bumrah to aim at.

Khawaja is walking at him and he's hit on the pads. Siraj swings it into the pads and runs off celebrating before remembering to ask the question.

The umpire says no, rightfully. BUT ROHIT SHARMA REVIEWS!

The ball hit him above the knee roll while Khawaja was walking miles down the wicket.

NOT OUT. Obviously. Of course. What a silly review. And it's missing too high, so India loses a review.

Siraj is in Broad territory in terms of celebrating when he should be appealing, but he's even worse because he does it when things aren't even close.

Four! Khawaja joins the scoring with a clip fine off his pads.

RUNS! Sam Konstas gets a ball on his thigh and turns behind square, running through for two. There are his first runs in Test cricket.

Defended and a big "NO", accompanied by a shuffle down the pitch. This bloke is vibrating with nervous energy.

Good lord. He's tried a reverse ramp shot to his 11th ball in Test cricket. It misses everything, mercifully for Konstas. Khawaja is wetting himself laughing at the other end.

And then he's absolutely done by another stunner from Bumrah. This is a hilarious way to start a Boxing Day Test.

The first ball is a low-key Steve Harmison, but Rishabh Pant gets across to it.

Beaten! Khawaja twists himself into knots trying to edge a ball that cuts across him.

Both bowlers so far are bowling hand grenades in their first overs. They'll want to break through early, because it's only going to get harder as the temperatures rise today.

No bat on ball through the first two overs as Siraj sprays his final ball quite similarly to his first.

HE LEAVES! A bit of out-swing from Bumrah on a wide line and Konstas lets out some nervous energy with a big leave and a call of "NO".

Beaten on the outside edge second ball. Enormous movement off the seam and rips past the edge of Konstas vertical bat.

Another leave, and another outie past the outside edge. Bumrah is on one here, fired up for the occasion and having a fresh bit of prey to hunt.

Crikey. Another incredible delivery seaming away from Konstas, who is nowhere near it.

And the last ball beats the outside edge too. Konstas makes it through his first over of Test bowling from one of the world's best, albeit only just.

The exuberance of youth carries the 19-year-old to the middle ahead of 38-year-old Usman Khawaja, laconically strolling behind some 100 metres behind him.

And Konstas is taking the first ball from Jasprit Bumrah.

The sold-out MCG crowd cheers as both teams appear out of the dugout and line up for Aunty Joy's Welcome to Country.

And it's followed by the anthems of India and Australia.

Sam Konstas belts out the anthem with a smile on his face. Young fella is on one here.

So, we know Scott Boland is in for the injured Josh Hazlewood and Sam Konstas makes his debut for the unlucky Nathan McSweeney.

But India has also made a controversial call, dropping 25-year-old star Shubman Gill, who only returned for the second Test after a thumb injury, for all-rounder Washington Sundar.

So captain Rohit Sharma has been elevated back to the top order and India has three all-rounders in Washington, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Rohit and Gill both missed the first Test, and neither has made much of an impact since returning in Adelaide.

Gill has scores of 31, 28 and 1. Rohit has scored 3, 6 and 10 at number six.

Key Event

1h agoWed 25 Dec 2024 at 11:03pm

Pat Cummins has done himself and his fellow bowlers a solid by winning the toss and batting first on this stinking hot day at the MCG.

It also means we're going to get an immediate look at 19-year-old opener and debutant Sam Konstas on the biggest stage.

Can't wait.

A lot has been said about the weather in Melbourne, and the Bureau of Meteorology is saying we're going to hit 39 degrees today.

Could be taxing in the field.

Good morning, folks. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and happy Boxing Day Test to all.

The mercury is rising in Melbourne and so is anticipation for the debut of 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas, who received his Baggy Green from Mark Taylor ahead of his debut this morning.

I'm Jon Healy and I'll be joined by Chris De Silva on today's blog, as the MCG plays host to one of the highlights on the Australian sporting calendar.