‘As good as I’ve ever seen’ – where does Jacks’ catch rank?

Will Jacks piloting with one hand under the Brisbane lights.

The outstanding Steve Smith was the batter. He was behind the ball.

England’s fans yelled incredulously that a comeback might be possible in the second Ashes Test as Surrey all-rounder Jacks clung on.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised this as “the best catch I’ve ever seen” on the BBC Test Match Special.

Oh my word, please! That’s a piece of incredible movement from Jacks, and it doesn’t get any better than that.

The catch was remarkable, as did his athletic ability to take the ball with his right hand while diving into leg gully.

Given the circumstance, it was even more unique.

Alex Carey was dropped by Ben Duckett two balls later.

Cameron Green had earlier been dismissed by Brydon Carse, but Smith continued with the score of 292-4, giving the team the unavoidable impression that a chance had been missed.

After all, England would be celebrating with Jacks, who leaped into a wide-eyed Joe Root’s arms.

Australia may still lead by 2-0 in Brisbane, but they are still strong in that regard.

Former England ace Matt Prior remarked on TNT Sports, “Will Jacks, take a bow.”

“That is a fantastic catch,”

The fielders getting behind the bowlers is exactly what we were discussing.

He threw out a claw as he had to cover a lot of ground. It’s a fantastic catch.

On day 2, England had a bright moment in the field, with Root getting his fingertips, Carse spilling Michael Neser, and Duckett dropping Josh Inglis.

Vaughan placed Jacks’ catch at the top of his list of recent viewings.

Given the circumstance, hyperbole? Possibly .

However, it is undeniable that it joins the great Ashes moments in the field.

In 2015, when Stuart Broad was caught catching Adam Voges, Ben Stokes dived to his right at gully, disbelieving in disbelief?

Adam Gilchrist’s gravity-defying snaffle by Andrew Strauss in 2005?

When England won the fourth Test by three runs in Melbourne in 1982, Geoff Miller retorted an iconic rebound catch to dismiss Jeff Thomson.

The Australians wouldn’t want us to forget Glenn McGrath’s dive in 2002 that eliminated Smith and Vaughan at The Oval in 2019.