McDonald lashes out at India for swarming on Konstas
Andrew McDonald has accused India of making an attempt to intimidate teenager Sam Konstas, with Australia’s coach claiming the ICC have set a benchmark by not punishing the vacationers.
McDonald revealed on Saturday night he moved to verify on Konstas’ welfare on Friday night time, after his on-field spat with India captain Jasprit Bumrah within the fifth-and-deciding Check on the SCG.
Of specific concern to McDonald was the actual fact a number of Indian gamers ran to have fun in Konstas’ face after Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja on the final ball of day one.
The incident got here after Virat Kohli was fined 20 per cent of his match price in Melbourne on Boxing Day, after making pointless contact with the opener between overs.
Requested if he felt the wanted to talk to Konstas in regards to the on-field alternate with Bumrah, McDonald stated he solely did so to verify on the 19-year-old.
“My dialog to him was simply round whether or not he was okay,” McDonald stated.
“Clearly the way in which that India celebrated that it was fairly intimidating. It’s clearly throughout the guidelines and laws of the sport, as there have been no costs laid.
“To have an opposition to swarm the non-striker like that, we’ve an obligation of care to ensure he’s okay and in a headspace to exit the following day and carry out.”
Requested whether or not he felt India had taken it too far by working in direction of Konstas, McDonald instructed a precedent had been set.
“It’s clear that it’s acceptable as a result of there was no fines or punishment,” he stated.
“I’ll go away that as much as the ICC and Andy Pycroft as match referee and the umpires on the market.
“In the event that they thought it was passable, then I suppose that’s the benchmark we’re taking part in in direction of.”
Konstas will doubtless have a key function to play on Sunday, with Australia taking a look at a tough fourth-innings chase with India 6-141 of their second innings and main by 145.
The day-one incident got here after Khawaja had pulled away and made Bumrah wait to bowl because the clock ticked down in direction of stumps.
India believed Australia have been stalling, prompting Bumrah to lift his arms aloft earlier than he and non-striker Konstas exchanged phrases.
Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli have fun with teammates after dismissing Usman Khawaja. (Picture by Cameron Spencer/Getty Photographs)
The pair then walked in direction of one another, earlier than umpires intervened.
Talking after play on Friday, Australia’s seamer Scott Boland stated he had discovered it “fairly humorous” {that a} 19-year-old had “gotten underneath the entire Indian group’s pores and skin”.
However India seamer Prasidh Krishna insisted at stumps on Saturday that was not the case, regardless of him being one of many first gamers to get in Konstas’ face.
“I don’t suppose so. Not but. We get pleasure from the way in which that he performs the sport and we’d additionally wish to play the sport aggressively,” Prasidh stated.
“Like if we’ve any individual who comes out and says, ‘I can struggle you,’ it’s as a group we need to inform them, ‘you may’t take us with no consideration, we’re all right here, the 11 of us versus you’.
“Should you might be as aggressive that’s tremendous.”
© AAP
