Young Aussie cricket sensation Sam Konstas is facing a fine from the Sydney Thunder playing group after being caught rocking his Australian cricket team official backpack at the airport. Konstas took the nation by storm at the MCG having approached the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah like few have when he blasted the Indian great out of the attack in the first innings.

Since then Konstas has stuck to his fearless style of batting, despite some backlash from Aussie greats, which has seen mixed results in red-ball cricket. Aussie cricket icon Ricky Ponting even weighed-in and suggested his style might not be sustainable for a long career. Other greats have questioned whether his antics on the field against India crossed the line at times.

Konstas returned to the BBL on Friday night but only managed four runs as he looks to build on his momentum. However, his Sydney Thunder teammates were on hand to bring him down to reality having called out the 19-year-old for sporting the national team’s merchandise ahead of the BBL game.

The Thunder were at the airport ahead of their clash with the Hurricanes when English star Sam Billings noticed the young star was not wearing team merchandise. Taking to social media, Billings roasted Konstas having called him out for showing off his new national side bag.

And the Channel 7 commentary team couldn’t help but question Billings – who was mic’d up on the field – over some team fines set to be handed out. And the Thunder star admitted it was all fun and games for the team who are gelling well.

“What sort of offence would result in a player getting a fine these days?” Billings was asked. “Lateness. Sam Konstas found out yesterday when he turned up with an Australian backpack, stuff like that,” Billings said.

“Bit of fun. It’s non-cricket related. It’s always just a bit of fun amongst the group. We have a great bunch of guys here. All in good spirits.”

When Ponting questioned whether the likes of captain David Warner would be getting a fine for certain antics, Billings joked he could be excused because of his form with the bat. “I think if he keeps scoring runs the way he does, I think we can let him off because he’s playing a different game at the moment, isn’t he?” Billings joked.

Many fans found Konstas’ brazen breach of the playing group’s ‘rules’ hilarious as the 19-year-old carries a wave of momentum with him into the Sri Lanka series. Although he did not back up his form upon his BBL return having only scored four runs. And the hype around the 19-year-old has been so large that the likes of former captain Border has called for his teammates to bring him back down to level as he faces uncertainty over his opening role in the tour of Sri Lanka.

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While plenty adored Konstas’ fearless approach against Bumrah and Indian bowling line-up, others questioned his attitude on the field. One such incident that raised eyebrows was his back-and-forth with Bumrah.

Konstas clearly rattled Bumrah at the SCG and the bowler took aim at the youngster after a wicket fell. Ponting claimed Konstas needed to stay out of the verbal battles on the field and focus on his cricket. And this was also echoed by former captain Border. The Aussie cricket legend said Konstas was close to crossing the line from being confident to ‘cocky’.

“There’s a subtle difference between confidence and cockiness and I think he’s just tipped over to the cocky side,” Border said of the Bumrah incident during the SCG clash. “I would be having a word, yeah. Just to calm it down a bit. I don’t mind confidence but I think that cocky chirp and chat that goes on … he’s obviously ruffled some feathers in the Indian camp. From his own personal point of view I’d like to see him concentrate on what he does best and that’s batting and getting big scores.”