Konstas may have failed with those first two scoops, but soon after he tried again and hit Bumrah – the world’s top-ranked bowler – with a six and two fours en route to a 60 off 65 balls. .
Those shots marked one of the most remarkable starts to a Test career in recent memory – cult hero status achieved within minutes by a batsman who had been tipping for the top for a long time. .
Because, while Kontas’ rise to the top was explosive, the journey to get there was long.
He was a Sydney suburban kid of Greek heritage who was scoring centuries before he reached double figures.
In October, he became the youngest player since the great Ricky Ponting to score a century in every innings of a match in Australia’s first-class competition, the Sheffield Shield.
Two years earlier, and just a month after his 17th birthday, Konstas became the youngest batsman to score a century for Sutherland in the top tier of Sydney’s notoriously tough grade cricket.
The previous holder of this record? A special Steve Smith.
“I remember not being too surprised who did it,” says Sutherland captain Tom Doyle.
The talent has always been there, even the scope shots.
“We had a T20 game and he scored a century in the U21s game in the morning,” says Doyle, recalling another innings by Konstas at the age of 17.
“I remember him being sledged by the opposition and before he ramped up like he did for Australia against some terrific first-grade bowlers.”
Many international players have passed through the club’s pavilion – Smith, Shane Watson, West Indies legend Andy Roberts and Glenn McGrath to name a few.
Konstas joined in 2022 as a 17-year-old from St George’s – the club where the great Sir Don Bradman once played – in a switch that made the newspapers, the buzz around it.
“It’s hard to compare,” says Doyle. “From the talent level, there’s no doubt Sam is equal.
“He’s on that upward curve where he keeps getting better and better every time he plays.”
Those who know Konstas describe him as polite and hardworking.
During his time at Cranbrook School, then a teenager, he first met Islam – a former first-class cricketer and batting consultant to the school’s cricket set-up.
He and Islam speak every day, training together several times a week, while all-rounder Watson, who played 307 times for Australia, has become Konstas’ mental approach guide.
“It really stood out when I was at the rugby grand final and Sammy kept calling me,” Islam says.
“He wasn’t exactly happy with how he batted in his club session, there was a game the next day and he wanted a 6am net session before his game.
“I remember thinking that I had never seen someone with the drive and hunger to tick every box to give themselves the best possible chance.
“He batted for almost an hour and a half and scored 205 runs in that game.”