4th Test: Konstas' Performance Sparks Khawaja's Revival, Says Langer
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Melbourne, Dec 26 (NationPress) Former head coach of Australia, Justin Langer, was thoroughly impressed by debutant opener Sam Konstas after his sensational 60-run contribution in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.
Replacing Nathan McSweeney, Konstas made his debut in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Melbourne, which is currently tied at 1-1 following a draw in Brisbane.
The talented 19-year-old immediately made a mark on the international scene with his bold stroke play against pace ace Jasprit Bumrah. In his 65-ball innings, the right-handed batsman blasted six fours and two sixes.
His innings provided a crucial foundation for his partner Usman Khawaja to break free from his recent struggles in the series, as Khawaja scored 57 runs off 121 balls before falling to Bumrah.
Langer remarked that Konstas' aggressive style evoked memories of former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, who scored 195 against Australia in Melbourne during the 2003 tour.
"That's the word (awe). Before the game, Sam Konstas was very confident and had been talking a lot. He has backed it up with his performance, which has been fantastic to watch. He reminded me of Virender Sehwag back in 2003, when he scored 195 off 233 balls on Day 1. He astonished us; we couldn't believe his confidence," Langer stated during his commentary on Star Sports.
The experienced Australian further noted that Konstas' performance has been a source of relief for his senior partner Khawaja.
"We can see that the way Konstas has played on debut has liberated Usman Khawaja. He appeared more relaxed; he was accustomed to batting with David Warner, who played with an aggressive mindset. Now, he has a partner with a similar style, which alleviates a lot of pressure," Langer added.
Earlier in the match, Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first. The home team made two changes, bringing in Konstas and Scott Boland, while for India, all-rounder Washington Sundar came in for Shubman Gill in the playing XI.
