Virat Kohli takes an absolute screamer to dismiss Handscomb

India skipper has stunned cricket fans with an acrobatic catch to dismiss Peter Handscomb for just seven runs in Perth.

Kohli showed great athleticism to jump up and reach his right hand out to maximum extension to catch the ball after a poorly-played back-foot shot from Handscomb.

The stunning catch, off the bowling of Ishant Sharma, caught the attention of cricket fans around the world.

Talk of opening-session chaos proved to be off the mark but it didn’t take long for the Perth Stadium pitch to start playing tricks in the second Test.

Australia lost three wickets during Friday’s second session, capped by a rearing delivery from India’s offspinning allrounder Hanuma Vihari which leapt up off a crack and caught the edge of Marcus Harris with the youngster on 70.

The variable bounce on offer after lunch on day one – some deliveries flew off the pitch while a couple barely carried through to the wicketkeeper – was in contrast to the relatively tame behaviour of the wicket in the opening session.

Tim Paine and counterpart Virat Kohli were greeted by an enticing green deck and predictions that it would play similarly to the WACA Ground of old, famous for its menacing bounce and tendency to produce devastating spells.

Australia’s skipper didn’t hesitate to send India into the field on a 38-degree day, a decision that paid dividends when Harris and Aaron Finch (50) put on a 112-run partnership on the green deck.

India’s four-man pace attack lifted after lunch, led by Jasprit Bumrah who trapped Finch lbw and tied down Usman Khawaja (five) in a brilliant spell before Umesh Yadav finished the job.

“The pitch has changed colour markedly since this morning,” former Australian batsman Mark Waugh said on Fox Sports.

“You can see it starting to dry out … it’s basically rock hard.

“I think 250 would be a decent score batting first.”

Assistant coach Brad Haddin said Australia’s strong opening partnership could prove to be vital.

“It’s one of those wickets where it’s important once you get in to go as big as you possibly can,” Haddin said.

“Talking to the batsmen, you don’t really feel in.”

The pitch is expected to quicken up as the match progresses with additional moisture added to the pitch on day one to negate the searing heat.

Marcus Harris, having witnessed many special Test moments at the WACA Ground growing up, is the proud owner of a piece of history at Perth Stadium.

Harris became the first person to score a Test half-century at the new venue on Friday when he scored 70 off 141 balls during the second Test against India.

The 26-year-old defied predictions of a bowler-friendly wicket to combine with Aaron Finch for a 112-run opening stand.

Harris started cautiously, failing to score off his first 15 deliveries.

But he unleashed some glorious strokes once he started to feel more comfortable.

And he did it despite some demons in the Perth Stadium wicket.

Harris could only smile in disbelief when a Mohammed Shami delivery bounced so low it almost rolled.

Luckily for Harris, the delivery was outside off stump and wasn’t a threat to his stumps.

But Harris was finally undone when a delivery from part-time spinner Hanuma Vihari hit a crack and jumped up, with the batsman fending the ball to slip.

“He’s got a really good understanding of his game,” Australian assistant coach Brad Haddin said of Harris.

“The way he played in difficult conditions, he showed good discipline.

“It’s one of those wickets where it’s important, once you get in, to go as big as you possibly can.

“You don’t really feel in. The ball Marcus Harris got was a bit unorthodox.”

Although Harris plays for Victoria these days in state ranks, he remains a West Australian at heart, and was eager to post a big score in front of family and friends.

Harris was eight years old when he watched his first Test live.

One of his favourite memories was witnessing Glenn McGrath’s hat-trick against the West Indies in 2000 at the WACA.

The talented left-hander always dreamed of playing Test cricket at the WACA – a feat he might never achieve given most Tests in Perth will be played at Perth Stadium.

But he is part of the generation next who have the chance to create a whole new set of memories at Perth’s 60,000-seat venue.

In 37-degree heat on Friday, Harris cracked 10 boundaries in his fighting knock.

Not bad for a player once rated “mediocre with flashes of brilliance” by Justin Langer, who made that comment when Harris defected in 2016 from WA to Victoria.

Langer later explained he viewed Harris as like his little brother, and made the comment to try to motivate the youngster to achieve greater heights.

Harris showed potential in last week’s Test debut in Adelaide where he scored 26 in each innings.

His knock in Perth has given fans even more of a taste of what he is capable of.

With AAP