Former Australia captain Allan Border was in awe of Steve Smith’s excellent reflex to pull off a stunning catch to dismiss KL Rahul on Day 3 of the third Test match between Australia and India at the Gabba.
Smith had earlier dropped KL Rahul on the first ball of the third day but had a redemption later. KL, who was batting on 33 when he got the reprieve, added 51 more runs to his tally. Rahul scored 84 runs.
“Just pure reflex. It’s an absolute ripper. This was flying across to his right there,” Allan Border was quoted by Fox Cricket.
“I can’t tell you how good a catch that is,” Border said.
“You have got such a short space of time to react. He’s got that one-handed diving away to his right.
WHAT A CATCH FROM STEVE SMITH!
Sweet redemption after dropping KL Rahul on the first ball of the day.#AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/d7hHxvAsMd
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2024
“You saw the first ball of the day it is two different characters. We talked about it. He does not normally drop catches and he takes some brilliant ones and that’s what it took to end that great innings from Rahul.”
Border also noted that this is not the first time Smith has taken such a stunning catches in his career.
“He was moving away to his right in anticipation and then goes right and it just sticks,” Border said.
“It’s amazing how often he does catch like this. He is quite extraordinary some of catches he does take. Just brilliant.”
After the lunch break, when asked about the catch, Steve Smith told 7cricket, “Dropped the easy one early. Yeah, unfortunately it’s got a bit big on me but yeah, nice to pull that one off. It was obviously a pretty crucial partnership to break at that stage so yeah, nice to hold on to it.”
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