Ricky Ponting Prediction: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that Sam Constas has the ability to make a mark on his Test debut against India. He said that the teenage batsman has the passion to show the world how good a player he is. But he will have a big challenge in the form of Jasprit Bumrah. Constas (19) is set to make his Test debut against India in the Boxing Day Test in front of over 90,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday as he has been included in the squad in place of Nathan McSweeney.
Constas, a member of Australia’s 2024 Under-19 Men’s World Cup-winning team, scored a century while playing for the Prime Minister’s XI in a practice match against India at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. In 11 first-class matches, Constas has scored 718 runs at an average of 42.2, which includes two centuries and three fifties. “I’ve seen a lot, there’s no doubt there’s a lot of talent there. The way he played in the PM XI game (he scored 107 against the Indians), the way he played in his first BBL game that night. Were capable.
“I know it’s different formats, but you can see the talent is there and there’s a bit of attitude along with it. And it’s not a bad attitude, (but) it’s attitude,” Ponting said on the ICC Review Show. That he knows he is good and he wants to show the world that he is good.” Talking about the challenge Constas faces against India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, Ponting said, “There is still a challenge. This is a test match. This is your first test match. You are playing against some of the best bowlers in the world. There is probably no bigger challenge than this in world cricket.
“It’s like any other country making his debut as an opening batsman against our bowling attack, when you have Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood. Bumrah is definitely the standout and probably the most innovative batsman in Test cricket at the moment.” He has been a fast bowler, so there is no doubt that there will be a big challenge for him.” Ponting expressed confidence in Constas going forward, especially with the five-match series tied at 1-1. After. “I don’t think he’s the kind of player that will be too worried about it. I think he’ll be excited about it. He’ll want to try to create some pressure with the way he plays.”
“Like he is not a player who is going to score five runs in 50 balls. He will either get up early or get out a little earlier. He will try to find ways to dominate the game, which is I think everybody likes that about him.”
Also read- ‘I live one day at a time…’, from mother to injury, Harleen Deol told everything openly after the century
