3 milestones achieved by Sam Konstas during his fifty on Day 1 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Sam Konstas came, Sam Konstas saw, Sam Konstas conquered. The manner in which the 19-year-old debutant took down the best bowler in the world in front of a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a story for the ages.

Australia made some changes in their playing XI after Jasprit Bumrah troubled their openers with the new ball in the last three Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Tests. Led by George Bailey, the selection committee brought in an 11 first-class-match rookie - fresh from a breathtaking century in the warm-up match between Indians and Prime Minister's XI.

The plan was to counter Bumrah's threat early in the innings. Konstas vindicated the decision by doing exactly what he was asked to. He reverse-scooped the ace Indian pacer, came down the track against him, and most importantly, didn't get out to him.

The right-handed batter seemed unfazed after a showdown with Virat Kohli, as he thrashed Bumrah for another 18 runs in the next over. By the time he got out to Ravindra Jadeja in the 20th over, he had already done the damage that was asked of him.

Konstas smashed six audacious boundaries and two sixes for his 60 off 65 balls and gave his side a rollicking start in the first session of the all-important Boxing Day Test. In the process, he also broke a few records and milestones.

On that note, we look at three milestones Sam Konstas achieved during his debut half-century in the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test.

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3 milestones achieved by Sam Konstas during his fifty on Day 1 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

#1 Sam Konstas became the second-youngest Australian to score a Test fifty

The youngster raced to his maiden Test half-century off just 52 balls, playing a high-risk high-reward game. In the process, he became the second-youngest Australian cricketer to score a Test fifty, achieving the feat at the age of 19 years and 85 days.

Former cricketer Ian Craig is the youngest to do so - in 1953 against South Africa - registering it at the age of 17 years and 239 days. Neil Harvey occupies the third spot for scoring a half-century at 19 years and 121 days. His knock came against India in Melbourne.

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#2 Most runs by a batter of Jasprit Bumrah in his opening spell

Taking on the World's No. 1 Test bowler bowling at his peak is itself a big feat. Add to it that the batter is just 19 years old and is playing his maiden Test.

Bumrah, who has troubled the Aussie batters in the series so far with 21 scalps, was reduced to the status of a local bowler by Konstas. The right-handed opener scooped him a few times and hit over his head, as the ace Indian pacer looked out of ideas.

Sam Konstas took 34 runs off Bumrah's first spell of six overs - the most a batter has ever managed. Bumrah bowled a maiden to start before conceding two runs off his second over. He then bowled another maiden before Konstas took off, smashing 14 runs in his fourth over.

The debutant didn't get to face Bumrah in his fifth over but launched a carnage in his sixth, hitting the pacer for 18 runs, including two boundaries and a six.

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#3 Bumrah concedes a six for the first time in 28 Tests

The ace Indian speedster consolidated his top position in ICC Men's Rankings for Test bowlers, released on Wednesday, December 25. Bumrah's prowess is evidenced by the fact that he hadn't conceded a six in 28 Tests until today.

Sam Konstas became the first batter to hit Bumrah for a six in four years, which counts to 4,484 deliveries in 28 red-ball games. It was a pitched-up delivery only for the batter to clear his legs and dispatch it over long-on for a six.

The record for the most balls bowled without conceding a six among current bowlers is held by Aussie left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc - 5,585 balls, i.e. 930 overs.