Fielding has always been an art in the fascinating sport of cricket, and within this art, there is a subset of genius called silly point. This close-catching position, which is only a few yards from the batter, requires both lightning-fast reflexes, and unwavering resolve. Not every player can field in this position and those who do are nothing short of brilliant and brave. Over the years, players have pulled off some beauties in this position. Here is a list of ten incredible moments where the some of these brave hearts demonstrated their close-catching skills at silly point, stunning both opponents and fans.
1. Ricky Ponting Vs South Africa
Shane Warne was the bowler who bowled one far outside off. The batter attempted to play it on the front foot but only managed to edge it. Ponting, standing at silly point, did not even have the time to bring his hands together but managed to grab it in his left hand. A timer afterward showed his reaction time was of 0.28 seconds which is incredible in itself. It was an exceptional reflex catch by an outstanding fielder.
2. Peter Handscomb Vs India
Lyon was bowling to Ashwin, who had just come out to bat. With India under pressure, Ashwin looked to defend it. However, the ball bounced on his shoe and flew well in front of Handscomb, who dived forward to grab a beauty. It was merely inches from the ground, and Handscomb showed great awareness and reflexes to hold it as it bounced from the shoe.
3. Cheteshwar Pujara Vs Australia
With Australia on the verge of getting bundled up cheaply, Jadeja came up to bowl. Keefe was batting alongside Wade. Jadeja pitched one on the line of off stump. Keefe looked to defend it on the front foot but edged the ball to Pujara standing at silly point. Pujara managed to grab it but the ball slipped out again and he had to take it on the second go. It was incredible because he almost grabbed it behind him.
4. KL Rahul Vs Sri Lanka
India was dominating even though Matthews and Thirimanne were well set. Ashwin bowled a straight ball, which Thirimanne read wrongly and tried to play it on the leg side. However, it caught the edge of his bat and flew over Rahul fielding at silly point. Rahul managed to get a hand on it and fling the ball up and when it came down he caught it comfortably. The ability to reach and stop the ball while it was going over and to catch it made the catch special.
5. Cheteshwar Pujara Vs South Africa
South Africa were in trouble with a wicket down for 15 runs. Du Plessis was facing Ashwin, who bowled a ball well outside off-stump. It was by no means a wicket-taking delivery. Du Plessis tried to place the ball towards mid-wicket on the front foot but only hit it straight to Pujara, who took an excellent low catch. The catch was so low it looked like he had nearly grounded it, but the decision went in India’s favour.
6. Ollie Pope Vs New Zealand
When Daryl Mitchell cautiously played a forward stroke to Jack Leach’s looping delivery, Ollie Pope reacted with lightning speed. He sprang up from his crouched position and plucked the ball out of the air with just one hand. What made this catch truly remarkable was not only Pope’s lightning-quick reflexes but also how close he was to the stroke – he managed to take the catch with one knee almost touching the pitch. It was a stunning display of agility and proximity, leaving everyone in awe of Pope’s fielding prowess.
7. Travis Head Vs New Zealand
New Zealand was in trouble with half the side down for less than 90 runs. Nicholls and Watling looked well-set and provided some stability to the innings, but not for long. Lyon’s ball got the edge of Nicholls’ bat, hit his pad, and flew near Head, who took a brilliant catch diving forward. What made it special was the extent to which Head crouched low to reach the ball and grabbed it in one hand.
8. Ricky Ponting Vs India
The debutant Dinesh Kartik, facing Clarke, defended one properly from the middle of his bat. The ball flew quickly towards Ponting, who caught it almost horizontally, behind him. His incredible reflexes are backed by the reaction time for the catch, which was 0.16 seconds! What made it even more special was that he took it with his left hand.
9. Ravi Bopara Vs West Indies
Graeme Swann managed to dismiss Shivnarine Chanderpaul without much trouble. Chanderpaul who seemed to struggle against deliveries turning away from him could only muster four runs before making an uncertain forward push against Swann. This resulted in a bat-pad catch being taken by Ravi Bopara. It was a smart catch as he had to almost dive forward and take the catch mere inches from the ground.
10. Kieron Pollard Vs Jamaican Tallawahs
Kieron Pollard, the imposing West Indies skipper, positioned himself strategically near the batsman while the left-arm spin bowler Robin Peterson was in the middle. Jayawardene moved forward to play the first delivery and tried to defend it to the offside, but the ball defied all expectations and hovered in the air. That gave Pollard enough time to reach down and grab the ball out of the air. What made it special was that a man with the height of Pollard could react quickly to take such a low catch.
