Jasprit Bumrah reacts towards Australia’s Sam Konstas after dismissing Usman Khawaja during the fifth Test in Sydney.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Sam Konstas has the shots and the words. The last attribute at times does land him in a soup. During Australia’s first innings in the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the opener exchanged words with Jasprit Bumrah, who was complaining about Usman Khawaja ‘wasting time’ before close of play.

The Indian spearhead dismissed Khawaja in the same over and he and most of his teammates ran towards Konstas to make their displeasure known. Australian coach Andrew McDonald found that intimidating while his rival counterpart Gautam Gambhir had his own take on the issue.

Speaking to the media on Sunday (January 5, 2025), Gambhir said: “It’s a tough sport played by tough men. It can’t be that soft. He (Konstas) had no right to be talking to Jasprit Bumrah when Usman Khawaja was taking time. He had no business to be involved with Bumrah. That was the job of the umpire and the guy, who was batting.”

Later when Pat Cummins was asked to react, he said: “Obviously the ICC and Andy Pycroft (match referee) set the rules and the punishments. We saw that in Melbourne with Virat (Kohli), 20 per cent (of match fee), that’s what they thought, so it doesn’t really matter what we think, they set the rules, so obviously that’s the standard they are happy with.”

Team India surrounding Australias Sam Konstas (C) after dismissal of Usman Khawaja during fifth Test.© AFP

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald conceded that Mitchell Marsh has fallen short of expectations with the bat against India but remained optimistic about Mitchell Starc’s availability for the pivotal fifth Test in Sydney. Starc’s fitness remains the primary worry for the hosts after the pacer battled through sore ribs from day three of the Boxing Day Test but still managed to bowl effectively, including claiming the prized wicket of Virat Kohli on the final day.

“Any time you get through the game, it’s always a good indicator that you’ve a chance at the next game,” McDonald told reporters after the hosts picked up memorable victory at the MCG to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

“It didn’t stop him (Starc). Clearly there was a little bit of discomfort early on in spells, but once he got warm it seemed as though he was pretty free.

“We’ll see how everyone recovers. Bowling last, it was a pretty attritional game, something that we’re not used to in the last few years.

“Clearly Starcy’s carrying something of some description. We’ll assess that.

“But other than that, it looks as though we got through pretty unscathed, but [with a] short turnaround recovery is important, and we’ll assess what the team looks like in Sydney based upon the surface, as we always do.” Australia will regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15 if they win or draw the Sydney Test.

However, if India win the New Year’s Test, they will retain the trophy, winning the series for a record-extending fifth-straight time.

Should Starc be unavailable for the series decider at his home ground, McDonald expressed confidence in Jhye Richardson or Sean Abbott stepping in to fill the void.

“Very confident. Richardson’s here for a reason. So if we weren’t confident, he wouldn’t be here. He’s had a heavy week with us in the nets. All indications are he’d be capable of bowling 40-plus overs if he was called upon.

“Sean Abbott’s there as well. We feel like, [the] SCG is his home ground, so he will be serviceable if called upon as well. It’ll be about assessing our frontline quicks and then making decisions from there.” Starc’s fitness issues, compounded by his heavy workload alongside skipper Pat Cummins, have also drawn attention to the limited role of Mitch Marsh as a fifth bowler.

Across four Tests, Australia’s fifth bowling option Marsh has bowled only 33 overs, a statistic that underscores his underutilization.

Marsh’s contributions with the bat have been similarly underwhelming, with just 73 runs at an average of 10.42 across four Tests (6, 47, 9, 5, 2, 4, 0). These lackluster returns have sparked criticism and calls for his exclusion.

However, McDonald defended the all-rounder.

“He’s in a good [head] space. Would you like better performances? There’s no doubt about that. Over four Test matches, he hasn’t been able to deliver at the level he would like and we would like.” “He’s up and about though. We just won a Test match. No, there’s no concern. And I think people have probably been reading too much into that.

“We haven’t required him with the ball as often as what we would have thought. He bowled again today. There are no injury concerns there.

McDonald insisted that Marsh bowling just 33 overs is simply because the team didn’t require him to roll his arm.

“I think to sort of head that down that angle is a little bit unfair. We just haven’t required him at certain times for whatever reason, so that’s more a tactical implementation, as opposed to a body.” 

File photo of Australia head coach Andrew McDonald.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

In the season to be jolly, Sam Konstas has found his Christmas gift. A Test debut for Australia in a Boxing Day Test Melbourne is a huge step and the host’s coach Andrew McDonald confirmed to the media that the 19-year-old will pair up with Usman Khawaja atop the order.

Explaining the rationale behind picking Konstas in Melbourne on Tuesday (December 24, 2024), McDonald said: “We had said leading into the summer that age was no barrier. What he (Konstas) has shown is an array of shots, the ability to put pressure back onto the opponents. He gets his opportunity and we are really excited for him. Boxing day, the biggest stage (Melbourne Cricket Ground), you might as well get that one out of the way early. We want to throw a different challenge at India. We believe Nathan (McSweeney) is good enough for Test level but we weren’t sure about how the top order was functioning.”

The Australian coach also felt that Travis Head, nursing a niggle, is good to play: “I am pretty confident he will play. He looked good with the bat in hand. His skills are in good order. He had a small strain in the quadriceps but he has been able to do his running. I think he will be fully functional for the game.”

With the series level at 1-1 and the fourth Test all set to start on Thursday (December 26, 2024), McDonald offered his analysis: “Every game starts afresh. Both teams have similar challenges at the moment. Both bowling attacks have been on top and I think this wicket potentially might offer the batters a little bit more as the game stretches. But yeah I am not a big believer in history repeating itself so it starts afresh.”

The coach also backed Khawaja: “Usman is not a concern. I think the way he is preparing, the runs will come. Batting obviously in recent times has been quite difficult with ball dominating bats. Good players always return to the runs and I am sure that will be the case over the next couple of Tests.”

Ahead of the fourth Test against India at Melbourne, which will be a Boxing Day Test, Australian coach Andrew McDonald said that explosive left-handed batter Travis Head battles no particular fitness concerns and will be just fine to play the highly-anticipated match, as reported by ESPNCricinfo. India and Australia head to the MCG Test with the series level at 1-1 and two matches left. Head, who suffered a minor quad strain during his batting in the second innings of the third Test at Brisbane, did not feature in Monday’s practice session but did have a short outing on Tuesday when he did some running and fielding.

He is the leading run-getter in the series with 409 runs in five innings at an average of 81.80, two centuries and a fifty.

Speaking ahead of the match in a pre-match presser, McDonald said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, “Has he got some things to work through? Yeah, he has. There is no concern at the moment. Has he been officially ticked off? I am not sure. I did not see the sort of back-end of his training session there, but I am pretty confident he will play.”

“I think he looked good with the bat in hand so obviously skills are in good order. Yeah, it will just be basically what risk is associated with that. He had a small strain to the quad.”

“But no concerns from my end. He has been able to be running, yeah, so I think he will be fully functional come the game time,” he concluded.

During the nets, Head did have some discussions with McDonald and Aussie physio Nick Jones but the coach said that it was just about his fielding position.

“Clearly coming off a strain he has got that, obviously the demands of bat-pad. So that is all that was about. And my question to Nick Jones was just around what he has got to do to finish off the session, so I was across it beforehand, or just making sure nothing had changed during the session, and then we just started to speak about India, what they might do. So it was nothing really that specific,” he concluded.

In 13 Tests against India, Head has made 1,124 runs at an average of 51.09, with three centuries and four innings. His best score is 163. In all formats against India, he has made 1,724 runs at an average of 46.59, with four centuries and six fifties in 40 innings and best score of 163. This includes centuries in the World Test Championship final and the ICC Cricket World Cup final which came in winning cause.

Since the WTC final last year, Head has scored 897 runs against India at an average of 74.75, with four centuries and two fifties in 12 innings and best score of 163.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

India’s squad for fourth and fifth Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tanush Kotian.

The home team bowlers did not put a foot wrong but the pitch “surprisingly” dried up quite quickly at the Optus stadium on the second day, eventually helping the Indian batters, reckons Australia head coach Andrew McDonald. India openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (90) and KL Rahul (62) frustrated the hosts with their dogged unbeaten 172-run stand that has put the game in firm control of the visitors, who now lead by 218 runs. While the wickets fell in heap on the opening day with as many as 17 batters getting out, only three Australian tail-enders were dismissed on the second day. “The surface looked considerably dry today. It dried out fairly quickly,” said McDonald during the post-day press conference.

“We thought there may have been a little bit more there. So, I suppose if you want to say that we were a little bit surprised, yeah, there wasn’t as much seam movement or swing.

“The bowlers were presenting the seam in a similar fashion to they were yesterday. So I think the conditions may have had some say in that.” McDonald said there was hardly any assistance for seam or swing, compared to the first day.

“If you look at the seam and swing, it was down comparative to yesterday. Yesterday was difficult work, I thought KL (Rahul) and Jaiswal played extremely well also.

“You need to ride your luck a little bit. Our guys got the balls in the right areas, and there was some plays and misses as well, so anything can happen if you get some edges on that. It could be a totally different day, but I think the conditions have changed, I’ll state that,” he said.

“In terms of the way that we bowled, I don’t think it was too dissimilar, potentially early on we may have been a fraction short, if it was to be critical, but I thought they went about their work well, it could have been a different day.” However, McDonald does not think Australia do not stand a chance in the series-opener, pinning hopes on the nature of Test cricket that keeps both the teams in hunt till the end.

“You’ve got the driver’s seat at the moment, but that’s not to say that tomorrow can’t change very quickly. Test cricket ebbs and flows, we’ve all been a part of a game when you’ve been well ahead of the game and it can twist and turn, so we’ve got to get to work on what it looks like for us tomorrow morning,” he said.

“It’s about 20 odd overs to the second new ball, we’ve got to work out a way to navigate through a few batters before that second new ball arrives and that could be our entry point back into the game.” He though admitted that they have to “get tactics right”.

“If we’re too aggressive then the scoreboard runs and then you put yourself right up against it. So it’s a real combination about controlling the tempo of the game and creating opportunities within that.” From the situation that India have batted themselves into, it is real a possibility that the hosts maybe looking at stiff chase of beyond 400 but McDonald would prefer not to look that far ahead.

“We’re not looking that far ahead, we’ve got 10 wickets to take first, so that’s our first focus. No, no targets, clearly 10 wickets to get, first priority, then we’ll move from there.” Talking about the frantic first day, the Australia coach admitted that it could be due to the nerves the players of both the teams felt due to the occasion.

“No doubt both the teams would have had some nerves there leading into a big series, so there might have been some error on the back of that, but I think as a batting unit when you get a look at a wicket and then obviously your bowlers go about their work and you get a second up opportunity, I think it looks a little bit different in terms of your mindset, your knowing what to expect and you can work from there.” McDonald also backed Marnus Labuschagne, who consumed 52 balls for his two runs in the first innings.

“He’s working his game as hard as ever. There’s no doubt he can learn some lessons from the first innings, like I think both teams’ batters.

“So he’ll be the same in the nets this morning, working through what his method’s going to be in the second innings. And clearly, your mindset changes based upon the conditions as well. So the game plan from the first innings is going to look different from the second innings.” 

Australian players walk back to the pavilion after the end of day 2 of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth on November 23, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

After a hard day for his wards on the field, Australian coach Andrew McDonald discussed his team’s prospects with the media in the current first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday (November 23, 2024).

Excerpts..

Playing arena

“The wicket has changed considerably and if you look at the seam and swing, it was down compared to yesterday (Friday). (K.L.) Rahul and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal played extremely well. Our guys got the balls in the right areas, and there were some play-and-misses, so anything can happen if you get some edges on that, and it could have been a totally different day (against India).”

Mood and strategy

“The morale is always good, it’s a pretty level team, whether it’s a good day or a bad day. There’s no doubt we are clearly well behind the game at this stage, but that’s not to say that tomorrow can’t change very quickly. Test cricket ebbs and flows. It’s about 20 odd overs to the second new ball, we have got to work out a way to navigate through a few batters before that second new ball arrives and that could be our entry point.”

First day nerves

“No doubt both teams would have had some nerves leading into a big series, so there might have been some errors. I think as a batting unit when you get a look at a wicket and then obviously your bowlers go about their work, and you get a second opportunity, it looks a bit different in terms of your mindset. You know what to expect and you can work from there.”

Australia coach Andrew McDonald
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Cricket Australia on Wednesday (October 30, 2024) extended the tenure of men’s team head coach Andrew McDonald till the end of the 2027 season, meaning he will oversee the team’s defence of the one-day World Cup in South Africa.

McDonald was appointed as head coach after Justin Langer’s tumultuous departure in early 2022 and has since steered the men’s team to notable achievements. Under his guidance, Australia secured the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup and also retained the Ashes in England.

The extension will help McDonald to be in charge of the side till the defence of the one-day World Cup title in 2027 and in their effort to regain T20 World Cup and Champion’s Trophy next year.

The period also includes 13 months of Test cricket, featuring away series against India and England and the 150th anniversary Test at the MCG.

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said: “Andrew has proven to be an outstanding men’s head coach who as well as delivering exceptional results has built a strong coaching team, methodology and an excellent environment for the team to perform at its best. We are delighted to extend his tenure for a further two years.”

McDonald said: “I am very fortunate to have an exceptional group of leaders, players, coaches and staff who are fully invested in the ongoing well-being, success and development.

“The professionalism, commitment and experience of my fellow coaches and the wider staff have ensured the journey has been extremely successful but just as importantly created a culture of unity, trust and inclusivity.” he added.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has acknowledged that Mohammed Shami’s absence is a big loss for India, but added his team won’t take the pacers who replace him lightly during the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy series starting on November 22 in Perth, citing the Gabba Test win of the visitors’ in 2021. Shami has been out of action since last year’s ODI World Cup in India due to an achilles injury which needed surgery this year. But there’s a possibility that Shami might join the Indian team for the second half of the Australia tour provided he proves his fitness and readiness in Bengal’s last two Ranji Trophy matches at Bengaluru and Indore respectively.

India has won Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia the last two times it was played here in 2018/19 and 2020/21 respectively. “Mohammed Shami is a big loss. The way our batters speak about his relentless nature, his line and lengths, the way he goes about his business, a real good complimenting skill set to Bumrah so think that one-two combo they’ll lack a little bit, and they’ll miss that.

“But needless to say we saw what happened last time, they had reserves that came in and did the job as well so they cannot be underestimated at all,” said McDonald to ABC TV’s Offsiders show on Sunday.

He also said Australia will have no issues in making teenage opener Sam Konstas play in Tests against India if the George Bailey-led selection committee feel he fits in their best playing eleven.

Konstas, who’s played just six first-class matches, smashed twin centuries in the Sheffield Shield for New South Wales this month, and made 43 in the side’s loss to Victoria on a spicy pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“I think we’re picking the best team for here and now, and if that does encompass a younger player, then we’ll head down that direction. Clearly Sam Konstas, on the back of his first Shield match, and the way he went about his work in the second innings at the MCG against Scott Boland, has definitely made some noise.

“I’ve heard people commenting, ‘do you protect the player?’ If they’re ready, they’re ready in our mind, and if Sam’s capable and we feel as though is capable to fill that spot I don’t think that the opponent should come into the equation.

“I think it’s purely is this player good enough to play Test cricket? You’ve got to start against someone, and you shouldn’t be holding back and protecting someone from a potential opponent, and India is a strong opponent but also the advantage of a player playing in Australia for their first Test summer is that the conditions are familiar. What better place to start than in your own backyard?” he concluded.

Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh will not bowl in their T20 World Cup opener against Oman on June 6 and will play only as a batter as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL, said head coach Andrew McDonald on Friday. Marsh played both the World Cup warm-up games against Namibia and co-hosts West Indies in Trinidad, scoring 18 and 4 respectively. But the pace-bowling all-rounder did not field for the full bowling innings in either games, with Matthew Wade taking over captaincy duties in his absence.

“For Mitch, (the warm-up games) was about ticking off where his body was at,” McDonald told cricket.com.au.

“He fielded more overs tonight (in the warm-up against West Indies), he was able to move more freely, so he’s building a little bit of confidence there. It looks as though he’s all set for the first game,” he added.

Marsh played just four matches for Delhi Capitals in the recently concluded IPL following a right hamstring niggle and he flew back to Australia in the last week of April to continue his recuperation.

“The second part is just when the bowling comes back online… it won’t be the first game,” said McDonald.

During the second warm-up game against the West Indies, Australia lost by 35 runs, with the absence of Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green and Travis Head, who are yet to join the squad, being felt by the Kangaroos.

The Australian players who took part in the IPL flew back home to be with their families and were exempted from the warm-up fixtures.

“It was by design, in terms of when we were getting people back after the IPL; we were well aware we weren’t going to get the squad together until the first of next month,” said McDonald.

“We’ve got some things in place where we’ll bring the group together, we’ll work through our plans leading into Oman and there’s a bit of space between that game and (playing) England.” Australia will play arch-rivals and defending T20 World Cup champions England in Barbados on June 9.

“We feel as though we have plenty of time to bring that group together. It’s a familiar group, they’ve played a lot together. If they hadn’t played a lot together then the prep might have looked different,” the coach added.

“We feel comfortable though as they know how to play with each other. It will just be finalising the XIs for the games, and the balances that we want. We’ve got plenty of options.”