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Cricket is among the few sports that make frequent attempts to stay relevant to the growing competitive spirit of the world. Not only is the sport among the rare ones that has three different formats but each format comes with its own set of unique challenges. Even though Test cricket is often said to be the purest format of the game, the fact remains that this form has borrowed and in a sense benefited a lot from the limited-over formats.
Perhaps the best thing that has been seeped into Test cricket from its limited-overs version is the kind of shot-making along with the fielding standards that have risen across the cricketing globe. And a recent catch witnessed in the Test match between New Zealand and South Africa is being regarded by many expert cricket commentators and pundits as probably one of the best all-time outfield grabs, specifically in red-ball cricket.
The incident happened in the second South African innings of the ongoing second Test match against New Zealand in the series. It was the 79th over of the innings and the Proteas were leading by 290 runs with the scoreboard showing 219/6. Colin de Grandhomme was handed this over and while Marco Jansen perhaps picked the right bowler to play some strokes and add a few runs, he chose the wrong fielder to challenge.
Here is the catch:
In the second ball of this over, which pitched on a fullish length outside the off stump, Jansen took the aerial route and flicked one towards the on side. While it seemed to be going away from Will Young at deep mid-wicket, the fielder did not give up and ran towards his left at the same time stretching out with his hand to complete the catch. Even the commentators could not believe what they had just seen.
What made the catch all the more special was that he was close to the boundary ropes and a few inches here and there and all that effort would have accounted for nothing. However, he held on to that catch.
Talking about the match, New Zealand need 332 runs to win on the final day but have just six wickets remaining at their disposal.