Australian batting phenom Sam Konstas says it “was my fault” teammate Usman Khawaja was dismissed to end a fiery day one against India at the SCG on Friday.
And his state coach has blasted the way Indian players reacted to the moment, declaring several of them should have been punished by the International Cricket Council for their actions.
It was a flashpoint in what was a whirlwind introduction to Test cricket for the 19-year-old Sydney product, who debuted in Melbourne and lit up the MCG by ramping superstar fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to the boundary on his way to a thrilling 60.
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He got under the skin of the opposition so much in that match that Virat Kohli rammed his shoulder into the teenager mid-pitch for no reason, leading to a fine from the ICC.
Kohli was again one of the main antagonists in Sydney when Bumrah nicked off Khawaja at the end of day one, moments after Konstas had mouthed off to the opposition quick.
Khawaja had been milking time off the clock in the hope it would be the last over of the day, leading to Bumrah and Indians being infuriated.
When Khawaja was dismissed with the following ball, several Indian players bizarrely charged towards non-striker Konstas.
“Oh, I didn’t get too fazed. Unfortunately Uzzy got out,” Konstas told Triple M of the fiery incident.
“He was trying to buy some time a little bit. It was probably my fault (he got out), but it happens. It’s cricket.
“Credit to Bumrah. He got the wicket, but obviously great performance from the team.”
The Konstas antics and the reaction from Indian players led to a stink between Australian and Indian coaches.
Aussie leader Andrew McDonald said it was intimidating behaviour, while his counterpart Gautam Gambhir put the blame squarely on Konstas and suggested the teenager got what he deserved.
Now, New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd has aimed both barrels at the Indian players who charged at the teen.
“I think it was a disgraceful act and should have been punished far more severely than it was,” Shipperd told SEN radio.
“He or the circumstance got under the skin of Jasprit, and the team response was super aggressive towards him.
“I think he’ll walk through that and look forward to his next opportunity in Sri Lanka.
“He’s just a brilliant young man who is loving the game, playing the game and responding to the challenges in the moment.
“How can you criticise people who play with a smile on their face? I don’t understand that.”
Konstas is expected to be on the plane to Sri Lanka later this month for a two-Test series.