Completely unplayable: Freak bounce bamboozles Cummins

The unpredictable nature of the new Perth pitch has once again been highlighted by an ‘unplayable’ delivery to dismiss Pat Cummins.

Seven commentators felt for the Aussie fast bowler as there was absolutely nothing he could have done to save himself off the wild ball from Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah.

The ball completely failed to bounce off the Perth pitch, leaving Cummins playing well above the ball, and his stumps exploding behind him, as the ball cracked into them almost at their base.

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Cummins was forced to return to the dressing rooms with only one run to his name.

One silver lining for Cummins however is the fact he will soon be able to capitalise off the dangerous pitch, as India’s batsmen come out to chase the Aussie target.

Kohli, Paine admonished by umpire in Perth

Tim Paine and Virat Kohli have wasted no time resuming hostilities in Perth, prompting a stern rebuke from umpire Chris Gaffaney.

Having engaged in a verbal battle late on day three of the second Test, Australia and India’s respective captains again squabbled during Monday’s morning session.

Kohli squared up to Paine while the Australian was completing a run and stump microphones picked up Gaffaney demanding the two behave themselves.

“That’s enough … play the game,” Gaffaney said.

“You boys are the captains. Play the game.”

Paine defended himself.

“There’s no swearing,” he said.

But Gaffaney reminded the skippers of their roles.

“You’re the captain, Tim,” Gaffaney responded.

An increasingly fired-up Kohli pleaded his case to square-leg umpire Kumar Dharmasena as Paine and Usman Khawaja continued to extend Australia’s second-innings lead.

Former Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson revealed what Kohli was saying.

“Speaking to a couple of the boys, Virat was going to the umpire and telling the umpire that ‘Tim Paine is talking to me. Can you tell him to stop?’ That type of thing,” Johnson told Fox Cricket.

“Which I find quite interesting with what happened yesterday.”

Damien Fleming said it was a sign Kohli was “starting to lose it”.

Former Test captain Ricky Ponting said on Seven he had no issue with the exchanges, noting nothing aggressive or explicit had been detected.

Paine’s fighting knock was brought to an end on 37 when he gloved a rising Mohammed Shami delivery to Kohli to slip.

Kohli could hardly contain his joy as he gobbled up the catch, with Paine looking back at India’s celebrations as he walked from the field.

Tensions bubbled on day three when Kohli and teammates appealed vociferously for a caught-behind appeal in the final over, desperate to dismiss Paine.

It was turned down and India had no interest in reviewing but stump microphones picked up Kohli having a dig at his counterpart.

“If he messes it up, it’s 2-0,” Kohli said, referencing the series lead he is so determined to take at Optus Stadium.

Paine replied: “You’ve got to bat first, big head”.

Kohli and Paine continued to exchange words as they walked towards their respective dressing rooms.

“Tim just asked him where he was going for dinner,” Nathan Lyon said.

“I’ve played enough cricket against Virat to know what he’s like.

“Virat’s Virat. Virat Kohli is a great player. He plays on emotion.

“I’m not worried about what he’s doing or India’s doing.”

With AAP