Teen talent Konstas fires up MCG with half-century on debut

MELBOURNE :Teen sensation Sam Konstas had the crowd in the palm of his hand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday as he smashed India spearhead Jasprit Bumrah around the park and got under the visitors' skin with a half-century on debut in the fourth test.

In front of a huge crowd on a sweltering morning, the 19-year-old shrugged off a shoulder bump from an irked Virat Kohli and a barrage of invective from paceman Mohammed Siraj on the way to a memorable 60 in 65 balls.

Trapped lbw by Ravindra Jadeja after the second drinks break, Konstas trudged off with huge cheers and the third quickest half-century (50 from 52 balls) by an Australian test debutant behind Adam Gilchrist and Ashton Agar.

His dashing knock, laden with scoops, pulls and unrefined slogging, helped push Australia to 112 for one at lunch as the hosts took full advantage after captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat.

Opener Usman Khawaja was 38 not out, with number three Marnus Labuschagne on 12.

With 11 first class matches under his belt, Konstas replaced the dropped Nathan McSweeney and promised to keep things simple with a "see ball hit ball" approach in his first test.

Bumrah beat his bat four times in the first over before Konstas whipped two off his pads to get off the mark, triggering a roar from the crowd.

India's players sniggered when Konstas failed to put bat on ball with two botched ramp shots facing Bumrah but he wiped the smiles from their faces with a four, a six and another four with his next three efforts in the quick's fourth over.

Dancing down the wicket at Siraj, he swung and missed at a ball, prompting a long stare and some choice words from the fiery quick, who was booed by the crowd.

Konstas charged Siraj again on the next