Virat Kohli screamer saves stuttering Ishant Sharma

Virat Kohli’s mercurial one-handed classic catch in Perth helped no-ball bandit Ishant Sharma escape from his own catch 22 situation.

Ishant Sharma struggled on day one in Perth. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

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Ishant Sharma was caught in a painful catch 22 situation as the overstepping Indian fast bowler put his side out trying to keep his foot in.

Virat Kohli’s mercurial one-handed classic catch in Perth helped the no-ball bandit pull temporarily out of his early day funk, but by stumps he was out of the attack and struggling with apparent side soreness.

After The Daily Telegraph revealed Sharma had bowled at least 16 uncalled front-foot no balls in the first Test in Adelaide, an exhaustive analysis from Channel 7 stopped the official counting at 22.

Ishant Sharma struggled on day one in Perth. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

When umpire Kumar Dharmasena called Sharma for overstepping by the barest of margins in just the seventh over of the second Test, all of a sudden the Indian spearhead dropped his pace by nearly 10km/h and lost his rhythm.

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It took a stunning grab from captain Kohli at second slip to get rid of Peter Handscomb to reinvigorate big Ishant, but at the end of a grueling 38 degree day in the Perth furnace, India had serious concerns about Sharma’s (2-35 from 16 overs) health.

The fact he returned from receiving treatment from the team physio to field was a positive sign he will try and bowl again in the game, but the anguish on Sharma’s face provided evidence of some kind of side strain.

TAKE A BOW @IMVKOHLI 🇮🇳👑

A piece of genius from #KingKohli in the slips https://t.co/EM9t1uPKGo #Kohli #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/64WGLLKDKM

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) 14 December 2018

It’s understood the International Cricket Council are likely to mark the match officials from Adelaide harshly for having the blinkers on when Sharma was charging in and in just the seventh over in Perth it was clear the blitz was on.

And Dharmasena’s willingness to make an immediate no-ball call suggested the heat was on.

Sharma’s average pace dropped below 130km/h, more than a 5km/h decrease from his class spells during the first innings in Adelaide.

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The big quick continued to keep things exceptionally tight and had five maidens from his first 10 overs, but the spring Sharma had in his step in Adelaide where he took three key wickets had diminished in the first two sessions on a stifling day one in Perth and only returned after tea.

Seven expert and former Australian paceman Damien Fleming suggested the no-ball outrage had got into Sharma’s head.

“We saw in his first over he wasn’t pushing the line,” said Fleming.

“Maybe he’s running in looking at the line and not focusing on where

he wants the ball to go.

“The radar isn’t working for Ishant today, he has been all over the

place. He has been too wide.

“He is really conscious of bowling no-balls.”

Meanwhile, Fox Cricket commentator Mark Waugh described Sharma’s opening efforts in Perth as “awkward”.

Sharma’s speed has dropped significantly from the first Test. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

“He’s lost his rhythm to a certain degree,” Waugh said.

“He looks awkward. He looks uncomfortable.

“He’s not getting it right. He’s worrying about the front foot. He’s working about his follow through.”

Australian captain Tim Paine admitted that he addressed Sharma’s no-ball blue murder in Adelaide with umpires in the middle of the first Test.

The ICC generally give umpires the benefit of the doubt with no balls, given their research has told them they are a rarity not possible to keep constant watch on given the cost of the technology needed to check the front foot every ball.

Sharma looked to be impacted by the no-ball blitz. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

“I spoke to them on one of the days, just really quickly,” said Paine in his pre-match press conference.

“Because I was watching the telecast in the changerooms, just to get an idea of whether they were communicating to the umpires in the middle. Which they said they were.

“What I do know is it’s not an easy job.

“As long as we’re aware of it and looking at solutions that can help that process, then I’m all for it. But I hope this Test match it’s done a little better.”

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Originally published as Virat Kohli screamer saves stuttering Ishant Sharma