Which catch was best - Stokes' stunner or a cracker from Cook?
Monday 24 August 2015 14:01, UK
There have been some stunning catches taken during the 2015 Investec Ashes - but which one was YOUR favourite?
After much deliberation, we have come up with a final five, with grabs by Ben Stokes, Steve Smith, Alastair Cook, Adam Voges and a certain Nasser Hussain making the cut.
Watch the video above and read the paragraphs below to refresh your memory of these superb catches and then tell us which one you think is best in the feedback form at the bottom of the page (skysports.com only) or on Twitter @SkyCricket.
1) Ben Stokes, Fourth Test at Trent Bridge
Australia were on the ropes on the opening morning in Nottingham with Stuart Broad bowling a scintillating spell of seam and they were pegged back even further - to 21-5, to be precise - when Stokes came up with a stunning one-handed ‘claw’ take at fifth slip to remove Adam Voges. Broad’s look of astonishment, which was soon plastered all over Twitter, only added to the moment.
2) Steve Smith, Fourth Test at Trent Bridge
The Ashes had all-but slipped away from Australia by the time Moeen Ali was swinging from the hip on day two at Trent Bridge, but there was still time for Smith to dazzle with a marvellous pouch at slip, the new Baggy Greens skipper hurling himself in the air and grabbing the ball one-handed after Moeen had looked to crack away a Mitchell Johnson delivery.
3) Alastair Cook, First Test in Cardiff
Moeen played a part in a fantastic Cardiff, catch, too, with Brad Haddin hitting his better-than-part-time off-spin to Cook at silly mid-on. The England skipper was unable to snare at the first time of asking but managed to parry the ball and then take it brilliantly with his outstretched right arm as he fell backwards, the home side going on to seal a 169-run triumph.
4) Adam Voges, Third Test at Edgbaston
We’ll leave you to decide whether Voges’ catch to dismiss Cook was brilliant or lucky but we love it. With Cook looking in fine fettle, he attempted to swat off-spinner Lyon to the on-side fence, but could only look on in horror as he nailed the ball straight into Voges’ midriff. The ball unbelievably stuck - and the England skipper is probably still wondering how.
5) Nasser Hussain, Fourth Test at Trent Bridge - eventually
After watching Stokes’ magnificent catch, Sky Sports commentators Nasser Hussain, Ricky Ponting and Michael Atherton displayed their skills in a slip-catching demo. Ricky and Athers were solid as a rock, Nass not so. However, after shelling a catch similar to the one Stokes took so expertly and then dropping a dolly, Mr Hussain finally pouched one cleanly - and how he celebrated!
