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Catches win matches and we’ve seen some incredible grabs by cricketers over the years, but which have been the best in the history of the game?
15 Best Catches in Cricket History
1. Ben Stokes vs South Africa (ICC Cricket World Cup 2019)
The fielder, himself, admitted that he was a little out of position as South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo struck the ball to the mid-wicket boundary.
Ben Stokes backpedaled and flew horizontally, plucking the catch from the air, dismissing the batter, and saving a certain six.
2. Paul Collingwood vs Australia (ODI NatWest Series, 2005)
One handed, flying catches at backward point were Paul Collingwood’s speciality, and this take against Australia is his best in my opinion.
Matthew Hayden was Australia’s unfortunate batsman as he struck the ball firmly through the off side only for Collingwood to leap like a salmon and pluck the catch from thin air.
3. Kieron Pollard vs Australia (ODI Series, 2013)
Off the bowling of Sunil Narine, Glenn Maxwell smashes the ball to the square leg boundary, and it seems like a certain six.
Pollard intervenes, taking the ball high to his left as the ball travels hard and low.
4. Adam Gilchrist vs England (2001 Ashes)
Adam Gilchrist’s catch in the 2001 Ashes series showed great agility and awareness. Marcus Trescothick swept a Shane Warne delivery into the ankle of short leg and, while most were watching the fielder in front of the wicket, keeper Gilchrist dived to claim the take.
5. Jonty Rhodes vs England (ICC Cricket World Cup 1999)
Jonty Rhodes’ catch that made it into the top 15 came in the 1999 World Cup, and I was actually there at the Oval to see it.
Bowler Lance Klusener had sent down a short delivery, and Robert Croft felt that he’d connected well enough. However, the athletic brilliance of Rhodes claimed the ball at full stretch as the South Africans dominated.
6. Kieron Pollard vs Rajasthan Royals (IPL 2014)
A Mumbai Indians regular, Pollard took a low and flat hit from Rajasthan’s Kevon Cooper, but his momentum was taking him over the boundary.
Quick thinking was required as Pollard flipped the ball in the air and crossed back over to complete the take. Relay catches are always spectacular, but this was one of the best of all time.
7. Yuvraj Singh vs South Africa (Semi-Final, Champions Trophy 2002)
Zaheer Khan forced South Africa’s Graeme Smith into playing a lofted drive and Yuvraj dived low to his right to claim it at backward point.
Outsiders for the win, the catch seemed to inspire India, who went through to the final.
8. Trent Boult vs West Indies (Windsor Park, 2014)
New Zealand’s Trent Boult is a brilliant fielder, particularly off his own bowling, and he could have had a number of entries on this list.
Kieron Pollard must have thought that he’d hit a definite six over midwicket only for Boult to leap, parry the ball in the air as it was crossing the line, before diving full length to complete the catch.
9. Mohammad Kaif Vs Pakistan (1st ODI, Karachi, 2004)
Not only was this a brilliant catch, it was also a match winner. With Pakistan needing just ten runs off eight balls, Shoaib Malik scooped the ball in the air before Kaif ran in from long on and caught it at full stretch.
India went on to win by five runs as the innings collapsed.
10. David Hussey vs Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL 2010)
A great individual effort, Hussey’s catch is similar to others, in the sense that he had to stop himself going over the boundary, but this is the best of its type in my opinion.
Firstly, he had to stop a high, flat hit. Then he parried it back towards the field of play before diving full length to complete the grab.
11. Adam Dale vs New South Wales (1997/98)
It’s not a name that many will have heard of, and this catch by Adam Dale was probably the highlight of a modest career.
What’s really remarkable about this grab is the ball’s trajectory. As the New South Wales’ batsman plays a lofted drive, the ball dips sharply as Dale dives to his right to claim a stunner.
12. Ravindra Jadeja vs New Zealand (2014, 1st test in Auckland)
We all know that Ravindra Jadeja is one of India’s best fielders, but this catch off the bowling of Ishant Sharma is surely his best.
New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum smashes the ball to the long on boundary where Jadeja, at full stretch, stops it, throws it back, and runs back over the line to complete an amazing effort.
13. Angelo Mathews vs Australia (2nd T20, 2011)
Another catch that required the fielder to toss the ball back in the air as he went towards the boundary rope, this is often described as Sri Lanka’s greatest ever.
David Warner was the unfortunate victim as Angelo Mathews showed that he had great agility despite his big frame.
14. Dinesh Karthik vs South Africa (T20 World Cup, 2007)
The very first edition of the T20 World Cup was lit up by this brilliant catch. Usually a wicket keeper, Karthik found himself at a wide second slip as RP Singh took Graeme Smith’s edge.
As the ball flew towards third man, Karthik flung himself high and wide to claim an unbelievable catch. See for yourself starting from 5:10 below.
15. Ricky Ponting vs Delhi Daredevils (IPL 2013)
Ricky Ponting was a very reliable slip fielder but this brilliant effort was taken at mid off.
As the bowler hits the batsman’s leading edge, the ball travels in the air with Ponting, playing for Mumbai Indians, leaping to grab it, inches off the turf.
Most Catches in ODI as a Fielder
The previous list of unbelievable catches doesn’t include those same names you will see if you head over to the most catches in ODI as a fielder. These players are generally much more reliable fielders than some of the cricketers listed above.
Like many articles contained within this website, this feature appeared in 2021. It didn’t seem fair to take out any of the stunning efforts on the list, so I’ve kept them all in, with videos where available, so you can all enjoy them.
Naturally, in the four years since this article was first published, there have been some amazing efforts, and each of the following could have been contenders for the Top 15.
Glenn Phillips: New Zealand v India, Champions Trophy Final 2025
New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips has to be one of the world’s best fielders at backward point. There are other catches of his that we could have included, but this one makes the list on the basis that it came in a final.
Against India, and with the Champions Trophy on the line, the dangerous Shubman Gill looked to smash Mitchell Santner over mid off, but Phillips lept high above his head to take an outrageous one-handed catch. The speed of the shot and the fielder’s incredible body position help to make this one of the greatest catches of all time.
Joe Root: England Vs Australia 2023
Like Glenn Phillips, there are other contenders, but it’s fitting to include this catch. By claiming the grab, Joe Root set a new record for catches in tests by an English outfielder.
We’re used to seeing Root at slip, but for this catch, he was stationed at short leg. Stuart Broad was the bowler with Travis Head on strike. Broad dug the ball in short and, as Head prodded the ball behind square leg, Root showed stunning reflexes to dive full length and claim the catch one-handed.
There will be more contenders and I could have easily doubled this list. These are, however, my favourites, and the original 15 catches from 2021 should still be included. If you think I’ve missed out some obvious choices, feel free to get in touch and tell us about your own favourite catch.
