Andrew McDonald on Jasprit Bumrah: Australia coach Andrew McDonald has raised questions over the way India celebrated the wicket of Usman Khawaja at the end of the first day of the Sydney Test. Also accused Indian players of intimidating Sam Constas. There was an argument between Constas and Jasprit Bumrah during the dramatic end of the first day’s play. The circumstances were such that the umpire had to intervene. After two balls of this argument, Bumrah dismissed Khawaja on the last ball of the day. After taking this wicket, Bumrah turned and moved aggressively towards Constas and the rest of the Indian players celebrated with full enthusiasm.
McDonald spoke to Constas after the incident to ensure that the 19-year-old was not upset by the Indian team’s reaction. “I spoke to him to see if he was OK. Obviously the way India celebrated that wicket was appalling. It was clearly within the rules of the game,” McDonald said. No allegations are being made, but the opposition team gathering around the non-striker like this… it is our responsibility to ensure the mental state of our player so that he can perform well on the field.”
Asked whether he felt India had crossed the line, McDonald said, “It was clear that it was acceptable and within the rules, because there was no penalty or punishment for it. So I don’t see it as a ICC issue.” “I leave it to Andy Pycroft (match referee) and the umpires on the field if they find it satisfactory.”
Constas scored 23 runs on the morning of the second day, which included a straight drive against Bumrah and a scoop shot towards deep third. After this he was caught out in the slip off the ball of Mohammad Siraj. Bumrah, who was fielding at mid-on when the wicket of Constas fell, did not immediately move towards the group of Indian players after the wicket fell and was instead seen walking in the direction of Constas.
Prasidh Krishna said after the end of the second day’s play, “We enjoy the way they play and we also like to play aggressively. If someone in front of us says I can face you, then a As a team, we want to show that we are here and don’t take us lightly. If you can be that aggressive with all 11 of us together, then so be it.”
Before the second day’s play in Sydney, Ricky Ponting said that he did not like Constas’s involvement in the incident the previous evening. “I didn’t like Constas being involved in it. It wasn’t his fight. It was between Khawaja and Bumrah. I hope the Australian dressing room spoke to the youngster about that incident,” he told Channel 7. Must have gone, because he should have stayed out of it and let his senior player handle the last few balls.”
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