Sam Konstas Should Preserve Fireworks for Batting instead of Sledging
Sam Konstas Should Preserve Fireworks for Batting instead of Sledging
Sam Kostas shows up late to the Border-Gavaskar party, but he's making up for lost time. This rowdy cricket newcomer crashed the MCG with a stunning half-century and is now causing a stir in Sydney with his sledging. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah isn't a fan, as one might say in the words of Donald Trump.
Kostas runs the risk of becoming the popular kid who turns into a troublemaker, making noise in the wrong places. His feud with Bumrah on the feisty first day at the SCG is a perfect example.
It seems Kostas has been watching old clips of Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, and Matthew Hayden using mental disintegration tactics. Hayden once called Shoaib Akhtar a "B-grade actor" to get under his skin. Kostas isn't quite skilled enough yet to taunt Bumrah about his lack of wickets. Bumrah has 32 in this series, although injury may prevent him from adding to that total.
Kostas has the audacity to charge down the pitch and treat the entire Test match like a Big Bash League game. His calls for more crowd participation are the modern sportsman's battle cry, and he's had quite a bit of luck in his three innings so far. Fortune favors the brave, and Kostas's 61 by Rishabh Pant gave India a chance to level the series. Yet, it was Kostas who sparked the tourists' fightback.
How ironic that Pat Cummins advised his players to be themselves and not try to impress the crowd or sledge just because that's what was done in the past. Kostas seems to be embracing that advice or enjoying his role as the showman. The Indian team was shaken up when the brazen 19-year-old opener took 18 off a Bumrah over at the MCG. No histrionics were needed to upset the Indians; they were already on edge.
Kostas is pushing the boundaries, and it will be a senior player who eventually takes him aside for a heart-to-heart. On the feisty first day at the SCG, Kostas intervened in Bumrah's frustration with Usman Khawaja's time-wasting, and the celebration around Khawaja's wicket crossed the line of the Spirit of Cricket. No fines or penalties were issued by the Match Referee or the ICC.
When mild-tempered Bumrah got involved with Sydney's Sundance Kid, it added excitement to the contest. Kostas may have made a huge mistake in riling the opposition instead of finishing them off with his batting skills.
With time, Kostas will learn more wisdom to step back and let the fielding side exhaust themselves. If the batsman stays in, the fielders will quiet down. It's simple. Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody wrote that "Sam Kostas has much to learn" and hoped that the dressing room is offering guidance without squashing his confidence and youthful enthusiasm. Usman had it under control, but the unnecessary distraction only added to the pressure at the non-striker's end.
The bowler must turn around to return to his mark and cannot stare at the batsman for too long. The batsman is in control and can often win the argument without saying a word.
Mike Atherton famously withstood Allan Donald during that legendary hostile spell at Trent Bridge in 1998 when South Africa thought they had the Englishman. "He was always one of those resilient players that always got under your skin; that little 'universities' stare under the helmet. You knew every time you played against him, it would be hard graft," Donald recalled in a Sky Sport piece on that captivating passage of play.
Kostas electrified Melbourne with his stunning 60 on debut. His antics at the crease have unified an Indian team that was about to fall apart. Win or lose, there's a lesson to be learned.
Kostas's interaction with Bumrah during the Sydney Test, specifically his involvement in Usman Khawaja's situation, raised some eyebrows. Despite the excitement, some argue it crossed the line of the Spirit of Cricket. Despite this, Kostas's audacity and batting skills have been a key factor in India's fightback. Jasprit Bumrah, despite his 32 wickets in the series, has had his fair share of challenges, including the young Australian's antics.