Konstas' debut, Bumrah's riposte highlight Boxing Day

Bumrah made an important contribution by taking three wickets, but it was Australia that came out on top as all four of their leading batsmen scored over fifty runs.

Australia scored 311 runs for the loss of 6 wickets, with Smith remaining not out on 68 and Cummins on 8. Labuschagne contributed 72 runs, while Bumrah took 3 wickets for 75 runs against India.

Sam Konstas, a 19-year-old playing his first Test match, dazzled the MCG with a bold exhibition of batting against Jasprit Bumrah. His performance managed to provoke Virat Kohli on an exciting Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Despite Bumrah being the best fast bowler in the world and taking three wickets, it was Australia that came out on top, with all of their top four batsmen scoring over fifty runs.

By the end of the day's play, Steven Smith was crucial in determining how much longer Australia could prolong their first innings. He was aiming for his second century in three innings, particularly after Bumrah had caused some trouble in the middle order. However, it was the initial phase of the Test that may prove to be pivotal.

In just an hour into his first Test innings, Konstas, now the fourth-youngest male player from his country, became the center of attention by audaciously scoring 32 runs off two overs from Bumrah. Although he was eventually out for 60 runs off 65 deliveries, he had already made his mark with one of the most impressive debuts, proving that the selectors made the right choice in giving him a chance at the top of the batting order, especially after Nathan McSweeney's difficulties.

Bumrah managed to take crucial wickets of Usman Khawaja, the in-form Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh, but this didn't lessen the concerns about India's dependence on him. The latter two wickets fell as Australia struggled in the final session, losing three wickets for just nine runs. Shortly after, Akash Deep took a well-earned wicket with the second new ball, dismissing Alex Carey and breaking the fourth important partnership of the innings.

Khawaja, Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne each scored fifties, though at a slower pace compared to Konstas. This marked the first occasion since the Rawalpindi match in 2022 that all four of Australia's top batsmen managed to score fifty runs in the same innings. While Khawaja and Labuschagne might be reflecting on what could have been, Smith was crucial in maintaining Australia's lead.

It all came down to how the day began. Konstas' initial over in Test cricket was bowled to Bumrah, where he faced four balls that missed the bat. On his eighth delivery, he successfully played a couple of runs into the leg side, earning a big cheer from the crowd. Just two balls later, he showed his aggressive style by trying a reverse scoop off Bumrah, which elicited both cheers and shocked gasps from the audience.

He ended up missing another over shortly after, and with Mohammed Siraj also causing problems for Khawaja, Australia found themselves at 12 runs with no wickets down after six overs. That's when Konstas delivered a remarkable performance that will be remembered for a long time. In Bumrah's fourth over, he executed a scoop shot to fine leg, followed it up with a spectacular reverse scoop for six over deep third, and came incredibly close to pulling off the same shot just three balls later.

He had already sent the top bowler in the world packing for just 14 runs, but he wasn't finished. In Bumrah's sixth over, he hit him for 18 runs, skillfully sending the ball to the boundary with powerful drives, including launching a slower delivery over wide long-on. At this moment, Kohli had given him a shove between overs, while Khawaja tried to mediate, as everyone waited to see how the match referee would respond to the tense situation.

Shortly thereafter, he raced for two runs, reaching his fifty off just 52 balls. He proudly displayed the Australian logo on his shirt and pointed to his name on the back. What were you up to at 19 on Boxing Day? Thoughts began to drift towards something even more impressive, but Ravindra Jadeja successfully trapped Konstas lbw in a way that has claimed many seasoned batsmen.

The pace of the game shifted back to a more traditional style: Konstas and Khawaja partnered for 89 runs off 116 balls, while Khawaja and Labuschagne's stand of 65 runs took 150 balls. The afternoon session kicked off with four maiden overs from Bumrah and Akash, the latter struggling again without success. Both batsmen had edges that just evaded the slip fielders, and one shot from Khawaja split the fielders, bringing him to his second fifty of the year.

India managed to maintain control over the score but lacked a strong attacking presence. However, Khawaja unexpectedly misplayed a pull shot off the very first ball of Bumrah's third spell, sending the ball to midwicket. This left Bumrah feeling a bit awkward about celebrating the wicket.

Labuschagne wasn't fully at his top form yet, but he appeared to be in better shape than he had been throughout the series, executing some gentle strokes to third man off Jadeja and showcasing drives that hinted at brighter performances for Australia's No. 3 in the future. After tea, there was a noticeable change in pace as Labuschagne and Smith put together 41 runs in the first six overs of the final session, facing the older ball. However, the pitch still offered enough support to pose a challenge for the batsmen, as demonstrated by another unfortunate over from Akash.

India's breakthrough came courtesy of offspinner Washington Sundar, who was included in the lineup to replace Shubman Gill. After the drinks break, Labuschagne attempted a powerful drive but ended up hitting the ball straight to mid-off, where Kohli made a clean catch. Labuschagne reacted by tilting his head back in frustration, realizing he had missed his opportunity to score his first Test century since last July.

Rohit Sharma recognized a crucial moment and quickly reintroduced Bumrah into the attack. On Bumrah's third ball, Travis Head let one go that just brushed his off stump, resulting in his dismissal without even attempting a shot. Head has been a source of concern for India due to his aggressive batting, so it was a significant wicket. In Bumrah's following over, Mitchell Marsh, who had just hit a powerful cover drive, ended up edging a big pull shot. This dismissal continued Marsh's struggle in a series following his outstanding performance in the summer of 2023-24.

As the crowd stood to honor Shane Warne at 3:50 PM, coinciding with Warne's Test cap number, Smith had just hit back-to-back boundaries off Jadeja, putting Australia in a strong position. However, his role was crucial to keep the innings on track. Together with Carey, they put together a 53-run partnership until Akash bowled an exceptional ball from around the wicket. Smith held his ground and left the field to warm applause from the remaining fans in the massive crowd of 87,242, but it didn’t come close to the earlier cheers of the day.

Andrew McGlashan serves as a deputy editor for ESPNcricinfo.