“I’ve never seen Bumrah react like that” - Former Australia cricketer opens up on Sam Konstas controversy in BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Ex-Australia pacer Damien Fleming has expressed surprise over India's stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah’s aggressive reaction to Sam Konstas during the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test in Sydney. Fleming pointed out that Bumrah 'sparked something' among his teammates during the incident before Usman Khawaja fell off the last ball before Stumps on Day 1.

The Indian pacer gave it back to Konstas who had intervened after Bumrah objected to Khawaja taking his time during the final over on Day 1 of the fifth Test. The development saw the ace India pacer, who was declared the Player of the Series, fuming in anger.

Fleming opined that Bumrah deserved the Player of the Series award for picking up 32 wickets, though Travis Head, with 448 runs, was a contender as well.

Fleming wrote in his column for ‘The Roar’:

“I’ve never seen Bumrah react like that. So he sparked something in the Indians that not a lot of people have. And when he batted, he didn’t look like he was fazed from all the chat from the Indians."

“Bumrah deserved to be player of the series with 32 wickets, but there’s an argument to say that Travis Head won this trophy," he added.

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“They need that third seamer” – Damien Fleming on where India lost to Australia in BGT 2024-25

Damien Fleming further pointed out that the tourists missed a third specialist pacer in the form of Mohammed Shami, which cost them the five-match series. He, however, praised Mohammed Siraj, who picked up 20 wickets in his five outings.

In his same column, Fleming wrote:

“Bumrah is an absolute star, probably the greatest touring fast bowler that I’ve seen. Mohammed Siraj probably showed that he’s a handy back-up bowler. But they need that third seamer – they really missed Mohammed Shami.”

The remarks came amid questions regarding Siraj’s consistency in Australia throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The Hyderabad-born pacer failed to pick up five wickets in a match, barring the series opener in Perth.

The cricketer-turned-commentator credited Prasidh Krishna for his bowling in the fifth Test. He reckoned that the pacer would get better with more Test matches.

“Prasidh Krishna was good with his six wickets in Sydney and he might get better with more Test matches," Fleming added.

This was the tourists' first Test series loss against Australia in the last 10 years.

With back-to-back series losses to New Zealand (at home by 0-3 margin) and Australia (away by 1-3), India are knocked out of the race for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.