WATCH: Will Jacks Takes ‘Catch Of The Year’ Contender To Send Steve Smith Packing

With Australia 291/3 in response to their 334, England looked down and out at the Gabba in the final session of day two. Australia were in total control with two set batters in the middle, and The Ashes seemed like it was slipping away from the tourists.

It was at this point that the Three Lions got a lucky break thanks to a brainfade from Cameron Green. The right-hander was moving acres to his left to try and negate England’s short-ball plan, but the tactic ended up backfiring big time when Brydon Carse fired one at the stumps. Green missed, Carse hit, and England had a wicket out of nowhere, against the run of play.

As it would turn out, moments after this dismissal, Will Jacks brought England back to life out of nowhere with a stunning grab to dismiss Steve Smith.

A mere matter of three balls later, Carse continued his short ball ploy and banged one into the surface that rose up on the set Smith, who was batting on 61*. As he’d done all day long, Smith looked to get on top of the ball and swipe the ball towards fine-leg but, on this occasion, the ball just flew slightly uppishly. Despite being uppish, the ball, for the longest time, looked like it would fall safe but Jacks popped up out of nowhere and went full superman to complete a stunning one-handed grab. 

The pink cherry was behind Jacks when he threw the dive yet thanks to his stunning athleticism and reflexes, the all-rounder pocketed it from thin air to break the Aussie innings wide open. 

In 26 days’ time, we could very well look back on this as the best catch of the year.