NEW DELHI: New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd didn’t mince words while addressing the incident of the on-field confrontation between India star Virat Kohli and Aussie opener Sam Konstas during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
During a gripping session of play when Konstas was in the midst of an impressive innings, Kohli bumped into the 19-year-old opener between overs.
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Kohli was later fined 20 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of its Code of Conduct.
Shipperd, who coached Konstas at Sheffield Shield level, said on SEN Mornings, “I think it was a disgraceful act and should have been punished far more severely than it was.”
Indian players gave Konstas a send-off during the Sydney Test, with skipper Jasprit Bumrah glaring at him after he removed Usman Khawaja on the final ball of the first day’s play.
The visitors were clearly uneasy as Konstas and the feisty Indian bowler exchanged words. Following Khawaja’s dismissal, Bumrah and his teammates crowded the teenager in an angry retaliation.
“He or the circumstance got under the skin of Jasprit, and the team response was super aggressive towards him. I think he’ll walk through that and look forward to his next opportunity in Sri Lanka,” Shipperd said.
The young Australian opener’s attacking play in Test matches was also commended by Shipperd, who predicted that his style would keep him in the team for a long time.
Everyone was captivated by Konstas’ performance in the Boxing Day Test, where he replaced Nathan McSweeney and smashed 60 off 65 balls, scooping Bumrah for fun early in the innings.
Everyone in Australia is thrilled about the player Konstas can become in the future.
“I wouldn’t use the word arrogance to describe him in anyway shape or form. I guess Sam’s taken the really aggressive route and was to play some shots that we would call T20 cricket but that was his form of problem-solving in the moment,” Shipperd said.
After getting bowled cheaply in the next three innings, Konstas faced criticism for his batting style, but Shipperd believes he will be around for a while in the red-ball format.
“It could be described as chaotic by a lot of people, but I think over time we… will add the craftsmanship to that particular approach. We’ve started a player off…. and he’s gonna be around for a long time,” he said.
