Peter Handscomb has turned the Second Test back in Australia’s favour with a brilliant, but fortunate, catch against India on day two.
The Aussie batsman, who can double as back-up wicketkeeper to Alex Carey, showed extremely sharp reflexes in at shortleg to send Shreyas Iyer packing.
The ball cannoned into Handscomb’s left forearm, before hitting his hip on the right side, rolling down his right leg and popping up for a juggling chance.
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“You talk about taking your chances when they come … this was like a total bonus,” former Australian captain Allan Border said.
“That’s just a reaction catch.
“Gee that can lift spirits on field something like that going your way.”
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Fox Cricket’s Mike Hussey praised Handscomb’s technique under the helmet to snare Iyer’s wicket and leave the home side reeling at 4-66
“Having the composure once it hit his body and bobbled up to just track the ball and catch it … that was a big wicket,” he said.
“Shreyas Iyer … He looked pretty confident out there.
“They are the sort of things to turn a game.
“Such a great catch. Breaking that partnership.
“They looked in control.”
“Lucky we know, (but) you’ve still got to have skill to gather it the second time,” Brendan Julian added.
Handscomb’s catch offset Australia’s DRS disaster where captain Pat Cummins burned all of the side’s reviews inside the opening session of day two.
“That is an absolutely unbelievable catch from Peter Handscomb,” commentator Mark Waugh said.
“Don’t worry about the reviews, just take a catch like that.
“He stayed down, he got lucky didn’t he as it hit him on the forearm and then he had the presence to keep watching the ball.
“It rolled up his arm and into his hands, that is a big, big dismissal.”
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“Has he taken it? This is a brilliant, brilliant catch,” Harsha Bhogle said in commentary.
“It will go down on the scoresheet as the bowler’s wicket but this is almost completely short leg’s catch and I think there’s almost a touch of disbelief on face of Shreyas Iyer as he walks back.”
