Freak bounce off Perth pitch ends Marcus Harris' record knock

Marcus Harris has fallen for 70 as a result of a seriously unlucky bounce off the unpredictable Perth pitch.

Harris batted extremely well but eventually fell to the bowling of Indian spinner, Hanuma Vihari.

Vihari pitched the ball in a dangerous area, but it was the remarkable height of the bounce that was the Aussie opener’s undoing.

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