Controversial catch sends Virat Kohli packing in Perth

The second Test has erupted in controversy after Virat Kohli was left fuming by a questionable catch claimed by Peter Handscomb.WATCH AND VOTE IN OUR POLL

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The second Test has erupted in controversy after Virat Kohli was left fuming by a questionable catch claimed by Peter Handscomb.

Kohli refused to acknowledge the crowd as he was finally given his marching orders by the third umpire, out for 123.

WATCH THE CATCH IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Peter Handscomb dismissed Virat Kohli with a controversial catch.

The Indian captain threw his gloves down in disdain as he crossed the boundary rope and looked back several times at the on-field umpires to make clear his displeasure after he edged Pat Cummins to Handscomb in the slips.

Umpires gave the soft-signal of out and replays could not conclusively show that wasn’t the correct decision.

Test great Mike Hussey said on Fox Cricket he was adamant Handscomb managed to get his fingers underneath the ball, but conceded the gap between Handscomb’s fingers meant that some part of the ball “was probably touching the ground.”

Adam Gilchrist said in Fox commentary that the flashpoint reminded him of a controversial moment in the infamous Monkeygate Test in 2008 where Michael Clarke claimed a low catch off Sourav Ganguly at a critical point in the final innings.

Captain Ricky Ponting famously gave umpires a soft signal of out, and under a captain’s agreement, Ganguly was given out.

Ricky Ponting believed the catch was fair.

Ponting said on Sunday Channel 7 that umpires were right to give Kohli out.

“I’ve got no doubt at all that’s actually hit his fingers on the full. That hasn’t bounced before him,” said Ponting.

Hussey said Kohli clearly disagreed.

“(Kohli) still doesn’t look convinced… he looks very disappointed to be leaving the arena,” Hussey said on Fox.

Kohli was far from happy with the decision. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

It was a major turning point in the Test match, with Kohli’s dismissal exposing India’s lengthy tail and Nathan Lyon immediately claiming Mohammed Shami for a duck to leave India 7-252 at lunch and still 74 runs behind in the first innings.

With Kohli at the crease India looked good for a first innings lead but are now fighting for survival.

For Kohli it was his sixth century in Australia – the joint most ever by an overseas batsman alongside Sachin Tendulkar.

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