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Friday, 14 July 2006, 16:52 GMT 17:52 UK

Classic catches

Catches may not always win matches, but some of them can certainly bring a crowd to life.

There were gasps of astonishment at Lord's as England's Paul Collingwood produced an astonishing, athletic effort to dismiss Faisal Iqbal.

Standing at third slip, instead of patrolling his normal one-day beat at backward point, he took off from the ground and with his arm stretched vertically, clutched the ball in his fingertips.


But Collingwood is up against some stiff competition when it comes to deciding the best catch ever taken. BBC Sport looks back at a few rival contenders.

VASBERT DRAKES, WEST INDIES v CANADA, 2003 WORLD CUP

Vasbert Drakes Canada's John Davison had raced to the fastest World Cup century and was 111 not out off 75 balls when he attempted to launch Wavell Hinds over long-on for his seventh six.

The ball had apparently cleared Drakes, when he somehow jumped backwards and was almost horizontal to the ground when he grabbed the ball in his right hand.

SHAHID AFRIDI, PAKISTAN v ENGLAND, LORD'S 2001

Shahid Afridi England were chasing a target of 243 to win a one-day game at Lord's and were almost there on 237-8 when Marcus Trescothick, on 137, failed to middle a lofted shot off Saqlain Mushtaq.

Afridi and Shoaib Malik both sprinted towards the ball and despite a collision which left Malik with a broken arm, Afridi managed to keep his eye on the ball and take the catch.

JAMES KIRTLEY, ENGLAND v INDIA, LORD'S 2002

James Kirtley Catches on the boundary edge are often routine, but that was certainly not the case as Kirtley flung himself to his left to dismiss Sourav Ganguly during a one-day international.

The ball was just inches off the ground when Kirtley got his fingers underneath it but ultimately it was all in vain as India won by six wickets.

JONTY RHODES, SOUTH AFRICA v ENGLAND, EDGBASTON 1998

Jonty Rhodes The speed, agility and anticipation of Rhodes was unequalled and he pulled off many magnificent catches during his career.

But perhaps the best of all came when he dismissed Robert Croft with a spectacular two-handed effort with most observers unable to believe he got anywhere near it.

GLENN McGRATH, AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND, ADELAIDE 2002

Glenn McGrath England's hopes of avoiding an innings defeat at the Adelaide Oval faded as McGrath flew through the air to catch Michael Vaughan and leave them on 114-5.

Not one of the game's natural athletes, McGrath was stationed at deep square leg when he dived to take Vaughan's pull just inside the fence.

PAUL COLLINGWOOD, ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA, BRISTOL 2005

Paul Collingwood Australia were desperate to put the humiliation of defeat by Bangladesh at Cardiff behind them when they took on England for the first time in last summer's NatWest Series.

But they were already in trouble on 63-3 when Matthew Hayden attempted a square cut and Collingwood leapt with his arm stretched vertically above him to pluck the ball out of the air. England went on to win the game by three wickets.




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Related to this story:

Collingwood puts England on top (14 Jul 06 |  England )

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