Follow UsBen Foakes once again proved he’s still technically England’s best wicketkeeper, with a brilliant anticipation and a full-length stretched dive to remove Jonathan Tattersall, on May 16 (Friday).
In the clash against Yorkshire, the Surrey wicketkeeper pulled off one of the ‘best catches of all-time’, showing why he’s rated very highly. It all started with Thomas Lawes’ sharp bouncer, which caught Tattersall by surprise and the ball looped up in the air after hitting his gloves.
However, while any batter would have expected that ball to drop to the empty gap in the short fine leg region, it is here that Foakes’ brilliance turned up clutch. The former England wicketkeeper anticipated the ball's trajectory, took a few steps towards the ball and dove full length, catching the ball with his left hand.
While full-length diving catches aren’t uncommon, it hasn’t happened that a wicketkeeper has almost caught the ball at fine leg region without a lot of height on the ball. The wicketkeeper batter has been in surreal form off late, with an unbeaten 174 against Warwickshire earlier in the County Championship campaign.
Not to forget that the right-handed batter smashed twin fifties earlier in April against Essex, showing his batting prowess. While England have moved on from him, displays like these might still keep him in the reckoning.