Moises Henriques, the Sydney Sixers captain, remains resolute in his belief that his remarkable catch during the Boxing Day match was taken cleanly, despite contentious replays hinting at a potential breach of cricket’s rules. The catch in question, which removed Tom Rogers in the Big Bash League clash, has reignited discussions regarding the ambiguities within cricket regulations.
In Tuesday night’s game, the Melbourne Stars secured their inaugural win of the season with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the Sydney Sixers, injecting fresh momentum into their campaign. However, the focal point of the encounter became Henriques’ sensational catch, executed while stationed at mid-off, which initially appeared faultless but raised doubts upon closer inspection.
Ascending high into the air, Henriques securely grasped the ball before descending to the ground, with visual evidence suggesting a potential contact between the ball and the turf while nestled in his right hand. As per cricket’s statutes, a catch is deemed incomplete until the fielder attains full control of both the ball and their body, prohibiting any contact between the ball and the ground throughout this phase.
The contentious catch underwent scrutiny as the on-field soft call favored an out decision, prompting the referral to third umpire Claire Polosak. However, insufficient evidence was found to overturn the decision, compounded by uncertainty regarding whether Henriques maintained his fingers beneath the ball.
“I unequivocally believed it was out,” asserted Henriques. “I had absolute control over the ball… I was confident the ball wouldn’t dislodge once I landed. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a clear view of the replay as I was attending to the physio at that moment. The review caught me by surprise; I was certain it was out. There was no moment of uncertainty or ball movement in my hand. It felt impeccably clean to me.”
The dismissal drew parallels to Mitchell Starc’s dismissed catch of Ben Duckett during the Ashes, where Starc appeared to graze the ball along the ground as he slid during the attempt. Henriques acknowledged the resemblance, highlighting the gray area in cricket where fielders often perceive control despite potential violations of the rules.
“I held the belief that Mitch’s catch at Lord’s was out too, just as I was convinced about mine,” commented the Sixers captain. “It’s a nebulous territory in the game presently. In earlier times, such dismissals were routinely upheld. However, with advancements in video technology offering clearer and more extensive analysis, these instances are under meticulous scrutiny.”
Henriques conceded injury to his left shoulder during the catch. While he continued on-field, the Sixers are monitoring his recovery ahead of their forthcoming clash against the Sydney Thunder on Saturday.
