Aussie coach accuses India of ‘intimidation’ towards Sam Konstas as tensions escalate in Test

Andrew McDonald has accused India of intimidating teenager Sam Konstas, with the Australian coach claiming the ICC has set a benchmark by not punishing the tourists.

McDonald revealed on Saturday night that he went to check on Konstas’ welfare on Friday evening, following his on-field altercation with India captain Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth and deciding Test at the SCG.

Of particular interest to McDonald was the fact that several Indian players ran into Konstas’ face to celebrate after Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja on the last ball of the first day.

The incident came after Virat Kohli was fined 20 percent of his match fee in Melbourne on Boxing Day after making unnecessary contact with the opener between overs.

When asked if he felt the need to speak to Konstas about the on-field exchange with Bumrah, McDonald said he only did so to check on the 19-year-old.

“My conversation with him was just about whether he was okay,” McDonald said.

Andrew McDonald (pictured) has accused India of intimidating teenager Sam Konstas

The Indian team surrounded the youngster after he claimed the wicket of Usman Khawaja to end the opening day of the Test

The Indian team surrounded the youngster after he claimed the wicket of Usman Khawaja to end the opening day of the Test

“Obviously, the way India celebrated that was quite intimidating. It is clearly within the rules and regulations of the game as no charges have been filed.

‘To provide opposition to the non-striker, we have a duty of care to ensure that he is doing well and that he is able to go out and perform the next day.’

Asked whether he felt India had gone too far by rushing Konstas, McDonald suggested a precedent had been set.

“Obviously it’s acceptable because there were no fines or penalties,” he said.

‘I leave that to the ICC and Andy Pycroft as match referee and the referees outside of that.

“If they thought it was satisfactory, then I think that’s the benchmark we’re playing towards.”

Konstas is likely to play a key role on Sunday as Australia face a tough fourth-innings chase with India leading 145 at 6-141 in their second innings.

The incident on day one took place after Khawaja had withdrawn and made Bumrah wait to bowl as the clock ticked towards the stumps.

Sam Konstas exchanged barbs with Jasprit Bumrah in a heated end to day one of the fifth Test

Sam Konstas exchanged barbs with Jasprit Bumrah in a heated end to day one of the fifth Test

Konstas has clearly gotten under India's skin in his first two Tests

Konstas has clearly gotten under India’s skin in his first two Tests

India believed Australia were slowing down, prompting Bumrah to raise his arms before he and non-striker Konstas exchanged words.

The pair then walked towards each other before the referees intervened.

Speaking after the match on Friday, Australian player Scott Boland said he had found it “quite funny” that a 19-year-old had “got under the skin of the entire Indian team”.

But India seamer Prasidh Krishna insisted on Saturday that this was not the case despite being one of the first players to get in Konstas’ face.

‘I don’t think so. Not yet. We enjoy the way he plays the game and we would also like to play the game aggressively,” Prasidh said.

“Like if there’s someone who comes out and says, ‘I can fight you,’ then we want to say to them as a team, ‘You can’t take us for granted, we’re all here, the eleven of us against you. ‘.

“If you can be that aggressive, that’s fine.”

Earlier in the Test match, several former Aussie players suggested Konstas should change his approach.

“You can understand Usman Khawaja trying to turn back the clock so he doesn’t have to deal with someone else, but then you have Sam Konstas trying to get involved,” said Mark Waugh.

McDonald said he has registered with Konstas since the incident

McDonald said he has registered with Konstas since the incident

“I don’t know if it’s naive enthusiasm or if it’s just the way he’s always played his game in juniors and likes to have a lot of energy and get involved in the game, but there really wasn’t any need for Sam to get involved in that . .

“I think he should have bit his tongue and it actually has nothing to do with him and it might have broken Khawaja’s concentration.

‘Maybe he’ll learn from that Konstas. If he continues to behave like this, he will have a target on his back for his entire career.

‘I just think he’s setting the opposition on fire. He set Jasprit on fire. You don’t want to set him on fire.

“I think Sam will think about that and think he should have minded his own business and said, I should just let the bat do the talking.”