The intense cricket Test match has taken another dramatic twist, with calls for the ICC to step in after a heated moment on the field.

Australia’s coach, Andrew McDonald, has accused India of attempting to rattle 19-year-old Sam Konstas. McDonald expressed concerns about the lack of consequences for India’s actions, suggesting that the ICC may have set a standard by not intervening.

On Friday night, during the fifth and deciding Test at the SCG, McDonald checked on Konstas’ mental well-being following an on-field altercation between the young player and Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah. The tension escalated when several Indian players celebrated aggressively in Konstas’ face after Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja on the final ball of Day 1.

McDonald was particularly concerned about this display, which he described as intimidating. He said his priority was ensuring Konstas was mentally prepared to return to the field. “I just asked him if he was okay,” McDonald explained. “The way India celebrated was clearly intimidating. While it seems to fall within the rules, we have a responsibility to make sure our players are in a good headspace.”

When asked if India’s actions went too far, McDonald suggested that the lack of penalties or fines might indicate that such behavior is now considered acceptable. “If there were no repercussions, then I guess that’s the new standard for these situations,” he remarked.

Looking ahead, Konstas is expected to play a key role on Sunday as Australia faces a challenging fourth-innings chase. India currently sits at 6-141 in their second innings, with a lead of 145 runs.

The incident on Day 1 followed a moment where Khawaja stepped away from the crease, making Bumrah wait to bowl as stumps approached. This led to frustrations from India, who believed Australia was stalling. Bumrah raised his arms in protest, leading to a verbal exchange with Konstas at the non-striker’s end. The situation became so heated that both players began walking towards each other before umpires stepped in to de-escalate.

After the day’s play, Australian bowler Scott Boland found humor in the situation, saying it was “pretty funny” that a teenager had managed to frustrate the entire Indian team. However, Indian bowler Prasidh Krishna disagreed with that assessment and defended their approach. “We enjoy his style of play, but we also want to show we’re not here to be taken lightly,” Prasidh explained. “If someone challenges us, we want them to know it’s all 11 of us versus them.”

The fiery match continues to deliver high-stakes drama, and all eyes will be on how these tensions play out as the Test unfolds.