Former cricketer Brad Hogg was unimpressed with Australia head coach Andrew McDonald's comments on Team India's 'intimidating' celebration in front of opener Sam Konstas. The incident took place after Khawaja's wicket during the hosts' first innings of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Sydney Test.
The Indian players were all pumped after the wicket and celebrated in front of Konstas who was at the non-striker's end. Konstas had a verbal duel with Jasprit Bumrah just before the ball was bowled and the speedster stared at the 19-year-old after Khawaja perished on the final ball of Day 1.
"Clearly, the way India celebrated that was quite intimidating," McDonald said (via ESPNcricinfo).
Hogg, however, didn't echo the same sentiments. He emphasized that as Konstas didn't shy away from sledging the Indian batters, so he also should be ready to face the same.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Brad Hogg,' the former Australia spinner said (from 3:58):
"The coach coming out and saying that the Indian players were intimidating Konstas and there is a mental health issue there, I think that is taking it a little bit too far. If you want to say a few words to the opposition team, you want to hit balls for four, walk down and give the bowler a serve while he is walking back to the mark, you are going to have to sit there and cop it on the way back as well."
It was an eventful debut Test series for Sam Konstas. The 19-year-old was also involved in a shoulder barge incident, featuring Virat Kohli, during the Boxing Day Test. Kohli was fined 20 percent of his match fees and received a demerit point in the aftermath.
"The coach should not be talking about the Indian intimidation" - Brad Hogg on Andrew McDonald's comments on Sam Konstas
Brad Hogg further opined that as the head coach, Andrew McDonald should not have made such a statement regarding the Sam Konstas controversy. Hogg said McDonald's role was to prepare the batter for such incidents.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added in the same video (from 4:26):
"The coach should not be talking about the Indian intimidation. The coach should be talking to his player about how he is going to handle the retaliation from the opposition team rather than defending him because if you want to give it out, you've got to take it back as well."
Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 by 3-1. Sam Konstas scored 113 runs across four innings at an average of 28.25.
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