Today marks the first day of the new year. If a catch in one of the day’s matches is already being hailed as the year’s best, it might seem like an exaggeration. But trust me, the ones making this claim can hardly be blamed.
The ‘blame,’ if you will, lies with Glenn Maxwell. The way he took that catch, even if the remaining 364 days of the year produce another 364 jaw-dropping catches, this one might still top the list for many. Commentator Mark Howard didn’t hold back, declaring, ‘Catch of the year… I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better catch.’
This happened today during a Big Bash League (BBL) match in Brisbane between Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars. In the 16.1 over of Brisbane’s innings, Will Prestwidge lofted a delivery from spinner Dan Lawrence toward long-on. The ball seemed destined to sail over the boundary, but it never reached the ground—because Maxwell was in the air to intercept it. After completing the catch, the commentary exclaimed, ‘He is a freak show!’
Let’s break down that ‘show.’ You’ve probably seen plenty of catches where a fielder at the boundary grabs the ball but, losing balance, throws it back into play before stepping outside. Or, when the ball is headed beyond the boundary, a fielder leaps and taps it back into play for another teammate to catch.
But what Maxwell did today needed no teammate’s help. It was a seamless blend of quick thinking and athleticism, as if he suddenly turned into Superman!
Prestwidge’s shot had significant pace, and Maxwell ran to his right toward the boundary. Realizing he couldn’t stay inside to catch it, he leaped into the air. The rest is the kind of moment you’ll rewatch countless times.
While airborne, Maxwell caught the ball with his right hand and, before landing outside the boundary, hurled it back into play with incredible speed and precision. What’s astonishing is that he did all this mid-air—catching, assessing, and throwing—all before touching the ground. The throw was so perfectly measured that he stepped back inside the boundary to comfortably complete the catch.
Normally, when a fielder leaps to make a catch, the force of the throw can send the ball too far away or upward. But Maxwell’s throw was surgical in its accuracy, ensuring the ball stayed perfectly within reach as he ran back in.
Media outlets have compared the catch to basketball legend LeBron James’ famous “alley-oop” moves. These plays require perfect coordination, timing, and execution: one player tosses the ball near the hoop at just the right height and moment for a teammate to jump, grab, and score mid-air.
While LeBron James is a master of the alley-oop, Maxwell’s catch had an added layer of difficulty. Not only did he catch the ball mid-air, but he also had to throw it to a precise spot where he could retrieve it again after landing and reentering the boundary.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, commentating for Fox Cricket, praised Maxwell, saying, ‘What an incredible catch! The way he balanced himself mid-air, the control he showed in releasing the ball, and the balance in his hand movements were extraordinary.’
Social media has been abuzz, debating whether this is the best catch in BBL history. Melbourne Stars raised the question on their X (formerly Twitter) handle, while the English Barmy Army captioned the video, ‘Drop what you’re doing and watch this. Glenn Maxwell just took one of the greatest (catches) of all time.’ The official KFC Big Bash X account went ahead and declared, ‘Catch of the season.’
Mind you, this season of the Big Bash, which began on December 15, isn’t set to conclude until January 27.
As for today’s match, Maxwell’s team had the last laugh. Chasing Brisbane Heat’s 149/7, Melbourne Stars secured victory with 11 balls to spare, winning by five wickets. Maxwell, however, didn’t contribute with the bat—he got out for a golden duck, dismissed on the very first ball he faced. But no matter—his team won, and Maxwell walked away with the year’s first ‘golden catch.’
