"You've got guys who have played 50 Tests" - David Warner criticizes Australia's batting lineup despite win in BGT 2024-25 4th Test
Former Australia opener David Warner has questioned why it took a teenager in Sam Konstas for them to counter Jasprit Bumrah's threat in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test series against India. Warner observed that there are several experienced players in the line-up who should have taken the initiative.
Sam Konstas, 19, made his international debut in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Facing Bumrah for the first time, Konstas played some audacious shots to disturb the line and length of the No. 1-ranked bowler in the world. The right-hander carted Bumrah for 18 runs in an over of his first spell, thereby hitting him out of the attack.
Speaking to reporters, David Warner credited Steve Smith for trying different things against Bumrah but felt a debutant shouldn't be showing the seniors the way. He said, as quoted by Perth Now:
"(Sam was) being brave at the top of the order, but you've got guys who have played 50 Tests, they could have been brave as well. They could have played different shots, they could have moved out of their crease and batted different. (Smith) Smudge tried a million different things. But it shouldn't take someone to come out there and be brave to get that momentum shifting. You have experience at the top of the order, experience in that whole line-up."
Konstas, who replaced Nathan McSweeney at the top, got to his fifty off 52 balls on Day 1 in Melbourne before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him for 60 (65). Nevertheless, Bumrah had his revenge in the second innings, dismissing the right-hander for eight runs.
Australia lead the five-Test series 2-1, with one match remaining.
"That's the nature of the beast, that's the way he is going to play" - David Warner on Sam Konstas
Warner, who is currently with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), said Sam Konstas' bravado and talent came together during that innings of 60. In the same interview, he said:
"It was very special. People are going to criticise him as well. That's the nature of the beast, that's the way he is going to play. When someone like Bumrah is bowling to you, you have to try and execute somehow. What he did in the Prime Minister's XI shows he has that talent. But it also shows he is brave."
The 19-year-old's innings helped Australia amass a match-winning first-innings total of 474, as they ultimately beat India by 184 runs.