Jasprit Bumrah experienced a whirlwind morning on the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). However, the Indian pace spearhead finally found some relief when he dismissed Usman Khawaja in an unconventional manner. This marked the fifth time in the series that Bumrah managed to get the better of the Australian opener.
Khawaja, who had been batting confidently on 57 and recorded his first half-century of the series, fell victim to a peculiar dismissal. Facing the first ball of Bumrah’s new spell in the second session, he mistimed a pull shot and ended up toe-ending the ball. It lobbed straight into the hands of KL Rahul stationed at short mid-wicket. The pitch, which appeared to have slowed down slightly, seemed to play a role in Khawaja’s miscalculation.
Bumrah’s reaction to the dismissal was one of astonishment. After struggling to claim his first wicket of the match, a relatively harmless delivery—an easy, hip-high loosener—brought him the prized scalp of Khawaja. The pacer couldn’t contain his disbelief, breaking into a wry grin, almost laughing at the manner of the dismissal.
Khawaja, who had done well to avoid Bumrah during the initial session with the new ball, succumbed to a softer delivery from the Indian ace later in the day. The dismissal, while far from spectacular, proved crucial for India as Khawaja had been steadily building momentum.
Sam Konstas Breaks Bumrah’s Early Dominance
Earlier in the day, Bumrah appeared poised for another strong performance with the new ball. He troubled debutant Sam Konstas in his opening overs, generating significant seam movement and forcing multiple false shots. The young Australian batter looked vulnerable against Bumrah’s fiery spells.
However, Konstas turned the tables during Bumrah’s fourth over, displaying remarkable resilience and creativity. In a stunning display of skill, the debutant connected with three scoop shots, collecting two boundaries and a six in a single over. This sudden shift in momentum disrupted Bumrah’s rhythm and added pressure on the Indian side.
Konstas went on to make a memorable debut, scoring an impressive 60 off just 65 balls in the morning session. His fearless approach and counterattacking stroke play put Australia in a commanding position. Although Ravindra Jadeja eventually dismissed him, Konstas had already left his mark.
Australia Dominate Opening Sessions
At the tea break, Australia were firmly in control with a score of 176-2. Marnus Labuschagne, unbeaten on 44, continued to build a solid partnership with Steve Smith, leaving India with much work to do in the final session. Despite Bumrah’s brief moment of success, the Indian bowlers were left searching for answers as Australia capitalized on favorable conditions to set the tone for the match.
