Top 10 funniest dropped catches in cricket history

Catching is an aspect of cricket that requires extensive effort to master. The more a cricketer trains, the more confident he or she becomes in making difficult catches in crucial situations. However, misunderstandings with teammates and other factors beyond a fielder's control can lead to scenarios that cause amusing catch drops. Even the top fielders in the game have been known to drop sitters on several occasions. Some even write a comedy of errors while attempting to hang on to a regulation catch. With this in mind, today we take a look at the 10 funniest drop catches in cricket history Here are the 10 funniest dropped catches in cricket history: 10. Mike Gatting vs India, 1993 Mike Gatting was one of the best batters for England in the 1980s and 1990s. He was also one of the best fielders of his time and was known for his catching prowess hence when he dropped a sitter catch during England’s tour of India in 1993, it came as a huge shocker. The incident happened during the Chennai Test when England spinner Ian Salisbury got a ball to viciously turn and bounce on Kiran More. More trying to play on the front foot was surprised by the bounce and the ball lobbed towards a silly point. Gatting stationed at the position had to take the easiest catch in history, but somehow he managed to fumble the opportunity. 9. Virat Kohli vs Australia, 2020 Virat Kohli is one of the safest catchers in the world today and his fielding in the deep is extraordinary. His great physical regime has helped him elevate his game in all three sectors, and he has always had an imposing presence. However, even had his off days sometime and one such day came in 2020. India was in Australia for a full tour and this match was a T20I. Matthew Wade, captaining Australia was on a song and tried to work Washington Sundar's back-of-the-length ball along the ground. But a leading edge took the ball towards mid-off where Virat Kohli was present. However, Kohli made an error in judgment by taking his eyes off the ball at the last moment and the catch was dropped. But Kohli made up for it as Wade, trying for the run, was run at the batting end. 8. Herschelle Gibbs vs South Africa, 1999 One of the most memorable and talked about drops of all time came in the important group stage match of the 1999 World Cup. Australia and South Africa clashed in an important tie and Australia was in trouble chasing a 272-run target at 174/4. Steve Waugh with Ricky Ponting and then Michael Bevan were taking Australia towards a victory. But South Africa had a golden chance when Waugh on 56, gave an easy catch to Herschelle Gibbs at short mid-wicket off Lance Klusener. However, Gibbs didn’t catch the ball properly as in a hurry to throw it in the air for celebration, the ball slipped from his grasp and fell on the ground. Steve Waugh went on to score an unbeaten century and take his team to the win. 7. Kamran Akmal vs Australia, 2010 Kamran Akmal was a very good keeper for Pakistan, but his penchant for dropping catches has been legendary. The most famous of all was his performance with the keeping of gloves during Pakistan’s Test tour of Australia in 2010. Akmal was atrocious behind the stumps during the Sydney Test, which Pakistan lost devastatingly. He missed a simple runout and also missed four catches. Akmal was one of seven players punished by the PCB following the tour of Australia. 6. Hassan Ali vs Australia, 2021 Pakistan was in a dominant position in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai against Australia. Chasing 177 to win the game, Australia had lost their top order easily and were dependent on the lower order to do the job. Matthew Wade took them to the final equation of 22 runs in the last 12 balls. Shaheen Afridi bowled the 19th over and almost had the wicket of Wade. On the third ball of the over Wade swatted Afridi towards deep mid-wicket. Hassan Ali running in to take catch, almost overran the ball and ended up letting the ball slip from his fingers. Wade, enjoying the life he had, proceeded to hit Shaheen for three consecutive sixes to win the match for Australia. 5. Steve Waugh vs India, 1992 Steve Waugh makes his second appearance on this list, but this is the guilty party. Waugh himself was known for being a pretty good catcher. But during the 1991-92 tri-series at home involving India and West Indies, Waugh entered the dropped catches Hall of Fame. This happened during a match between India and Australia. Tendulkar’s attempt to pull a shot to Waugh’s back-of-the-length delivery resulted in a leading edge. Waugh comfortably placed himself under the ball for the catch off his bowling. But going reverse cup, the ball hit his palm and popped out. As commentator Tony Greig was confident of the catch being taken, Waugh fumbled and captain Allan Border dropped to his knees in reaction. 4. Salman Butt vs England, 2010 Salman Butt has been notorious since it was revealed that he was the mastermind behind the spot-fixing controversy in 2010 in a Test against England. He was the one who made Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir bowl no-balls at predetermined spots, so they could get huge money from the bookies, who betted on the same. This gives a different perspective to his dropped catch in a Test against New Zealand in 2009 in Wellington. Mohammad Asif forced an inside edge off opener Daniel Flynn at short leg that was shockingly dropped by Salman Butt after numerous re-attempts to catch the ball. The way Butt juggled the ball and then failed to catch it, now gives viewers doubts whether the catch was dropped intentionally or not. 3. Joe Denly vs New Zealand, 2019 We came back to New Zealand for this gaffe when England toured the country in 2019. Joe Denly was trying to make a spot for himself in England's middle order and was also trying to impress with his fielding. However, during the second Test between the two sides, Denly got his name etched in the list of funniest catches ever dropped in cricket history. Jofra Archer got Kane Williamson to play a false shot off a knuckleball and the ball was lobbed towards Joe Denly at short mid-wicket region. However, Archer, who had begun celebrating the wicket, had to react in agony as the ball hit Denly’s hands and popped out immediately. Though Archer smiled, Denly was left red-faced at the simple dropped catch. 2. Michael Hussey vs South Africa, 2008 Michael Hussey was one of the safest and most agile fielders during his cricketing career. Known for his safe hands, Hussey often fielded at difficult positions in the field. But even he was once stumped by a skier that went high in the air. The match was a 2008 Test between South Africa and Australia and Dale Steyn managed to send the ball high in the orbit off Nathan Hauritz. Hussey at mid-off, settled under the ball, but despite wearing sunglasses, he cost the ball in the sun. It is hilarious to see him trying to judge the ball by blocking the sun with one hand and then the other, while the ball dropped beside him. 1. Saeed Ajmal vs West Indies, 2008 Saeed Ajmal’s clip of dropping the catch of Chris Gayle during an ODI remains one of the most viewed videos ever on YouTube. While Ajmal was a very good spinner, until he was banned for illegal action, he wasn’t the best fielder in the Pakistani team. During an ODI in 2008 against West Indies, Chris Gayle hit a Umar Gul delivery high in the air. Bjmal and captain Shoaib Malik converged to take the catch, but neither called for it and the ball fell between them Malik and Ajmal were seen arguing and pointing towards one another.

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