DHAKA, Dec 26, 2024 (BSS)-While Australia's young pedigree Sam Konstas rose
to the instant prominence by playing a blistering knock against India on his
day in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne today, the name of his personal coach
caught the attention of Bangladeshi fans.

During the match commentary, Isa Guha revealed that Sam Konstas's batting
coach is a Bangladeshi. The coach, Tahmid Islam, is a former first-class
cricketer from Bangladesh.

According to Australian media outlet The Age, alongside former Australian
all-rounder Shane Watson, Konstas has been mentored by the former Bangladesh
first-class batter Tahmid Islam, who first worked with the teenager at the
prestigious Cranbrook School in Sydney.

Tahmid's association with Konstas has been a fruitful one, gaining momentum
when Watson also chimed in to help, according to the media outlet.

The 19-year old Konstas came down heavily on Jasprit Bumrah, considered as
the best pacer at this moment, to give Australia a rapid start.

 Only four times Bumrah conceded more than 10 runs in an over in Test cricket and
Konstas was responsible for this twice in a day at the iconic MCG today.
Before being dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja, he blasted 60 off 65 with six
fours and two sixes.

"Sam Konstas' personal batting coach will travel to Melbourne to help prepare
him for the daunting challenge of Jasprit Bumrah, as the 19-year-old's
chances of a celebrated Boxing Day debut for Australia grow stronger by the
hour," The Age reported ahead of the Test.

Konstas treatment to Bumrah is now a fairytale. Bumrah conceded 18 runs in an
over for the first time. He conceded 38 in a six-over spell for the first
time.

The Indina got hit for six for the first time in Test cricket in nearly
four years and conceded two sixes to an individual for just the second time.

However, Tahmid himself has an interesting cricketing background. He was part
of the Prime Bank Cricket Club during the 2017 Bangladesh Premier Division
Cricket League but didn't play any matches that season.

 The club introduced
him as an Australian-born Bangladeshi in one of their promotional videos.

"We talked through what he wanted to do with his cricket and how he wanted to
elevate his game to the next level," Tahmid was quoted by The Age.

 "I had
dinner with Jim, his dad, and worked out a bit of program for him and then it
was right into work.

 "I do a lot of technical work with him, and then Shane (Watson) helps him
through the mental side of his game, which is fantastic. It's been a great
journey with the three of us.

 Shane was amazing to him in taking on a
mentoring role and helped him a lot in the mental space and technical space
too, to be fair. It's been a fantastic journey."