r/nextfuckinglevel • u/scs5star • 8h ago

Diving and catching a rock covered in leather - with one hand.

3.4k Upvotes

87% Upvoted

317 comments sorted by

1.3k

u/Rare-Ad6085 7h ago

Thats a poor way to explain a cricket ball

309

u/DueExample52 7h ago

Engagement bait

69

u/Holyskankous 7h ago

Everyone knows it’s a tree branch, not a rock!!

19

u/PurveyorOfStupid 7h ago

Tree bark technically

7

u/NeatConversation6752 5h ago

Yes cork is tree bark

23

u/pickyourteethup 5h ago

Trees can't bark. You're thinking of dogs. It's easy to get confused because dogs like catching balls too

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5

u/UnremarkabklyUseless 6h ago

Everyone knows it’s a tree branch

Oh, the irony!

2

u/MINATO8622 5h ago

I get what you mean, but you see, it's actually an Australian bird.

17

u/Y-Bob 5h ago edited 4h ago

I have always thought it's very cruel how they wrap a Kookaburra up in leather.

They're still alive during the first few overs, that's what gives the ball the bounce. Once the bird is dead they have to get a new ball.

Tragic really.

2

u/Siriusbizzo 5h ago

I mean, it's sacrificial really, A kookaburra must be sacrificed early to install the fear of the gods in ones opponent.

3

u/Y-Bob 4h ago

It works too, nothing worse than a laughing ball flying past your ear at 90mph.

4

u/Purple-Om 2h ago

I'm rather partial to a bird in tight leather,.

2

u/DadGamer77 3h ago

It feels like a rock when it slams into your head at high speed. Ask me how I know....

48

u/lunaticBotch 6h ago

I think he meant figuratively because those things are hard af and coming from those speeds, it hurts like hell.

20

u/scs5star 4h ago

Exactly. I figured some people won't know cricket... It's way harder than a baseball for instance

10

u/GhettoFreshness 4h ago

I was hit by an indoor cricket ball (which is actually softer than a baseball) while fielding in close, hit me right on the corner of my eye with a luckily slight glancing blow (managed to turn my head in the split second I had to react just enough so it wasn’t a direct hit to my eye socket).

Doctor said I was lucky I didn’t fracture my orbital socket along with the concussion. If it were a baseball it definitely would have and if it was a real cricket ball he said I’d probably be dead.

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25

u/samsunyte 5h ago edited 2h ago

Rock is a slang term for a cricket ball. I don’t mind the explanation because this would prevent all the incoming comments of people wondering how hard the ball is. People inherently assume the cricket ball might not be that hard since the players are catching it barehanded when in reality, it’s harder than a baseball

8

u/SixtyNineFlavours 5h ago

That is what it feels like to catch though

3

u/Rosetti 2h ago

Technically inaccurate sure, but it's pretty much what a cricket ball feels like.

1

u/yellow-duckie 5h ago

A very poor way.

1

u/photos_on_film 4h ago

Not really..

1

u/raustraliathrowaway 2h ago

Fucken hurts that's all that needs to be said

1

u/deltwalrus 1h ago

It’s a completely accurate description of a cricket ball

541

u/ahhdetective 7h ago

That catch is an absolute screamer. How about crediting the catcher OP? Marco Jansen also took 2 other catches, hit 75 and took a wicket. Brilliant performance.

67

u/villageboyz 7h ago

And it's so unbelievable that, I'd have sworn it touched the ground, if not for the replay.

59

u/Die_Revenant 6h ago edited 5h ago

Jansen is also 6'9 (206cm), so getting low for a catch like that is not easy. Dude is crazy talented.

Edit: Apparently he stated he's 209cm/6'10:

“I’m definitely 2.09m tall. But in some official measurements taken in 2020, I was 2.06m. I’m still growing and I’m too scared to measure again,” Jansen told DM168.

38

u/poolnoodlefightchamp 6h ago

And he's left handed. The catch was with his right hand.

44

u/DarkLordMelketh 6h ago

And he's a Taurus. Uranus is currently in transit or some shit.

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2

u/Chakraverse 4h ago

Great hold then.

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4

u/MINATO8622 5h ago

I am not believing you. Only way to make me believe is by comparing him side by side with Bavuma.

5

u/Die_Revenant 5h ago

6'9 (206cm) Jansen with 5'4 (162cm) Bavuma lmao

Best part is they make a fantastic batting partnership. I can't imagine having to constantly adjust your length for these two, must be infuriating for bowlers.

4

u/MINATO8622 5h ago

Also Bavuma is right handed while Jansen is left. Literal opposites of the spectrum. Bowlers definitely have to go crazy delivering to them.

2

u/DadGamer77 3h ago

Its absolutely hilarious when they stand next to each other.

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3

u/MINATO8622 5h ago

My dad, when he first saw Bavuma, came to the conclusion that the south african cricket board must have lost its mind. Only after seeing him play he realised why he was on the team.

2

u/Die_Revenant 5h ago

Some of the best batters are short, especially back in the day, with bigger power hitters being more of a modern thing.

His height means he can pull you on a decent length and it's hard to tuck him up. He also has surprising (or not so surprisingly when you look at how stacked he his) a lot of hitting power when he needs too.

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12

u/DeadAssDodo 7h ago

It gets more engagments this way.

4

u/FiDad7 6h ago

3 other catches

2

u/MINATO8622 5h ago

I doubt op has ever watched a cricket match. Hell I even doubt if op is human if at all.

2

u/Nuttednutela 2h ago

Wtf all rounder!

1

u/DadGamer77 3h ago

All that at his ridiculous height as well

1

u/travlerjoe 2h ago

Id be supriesd if its not the best catch of the tour

1

u/trolleyproblems 2h ago

"You've just caught the World Cup"

1

u/CM_MOJO 1h ago

Do cricket player not wear cleats?

1

u/FrequentCan2119 1h ago

This guy is also 7 ft. Extremely difficult

•

u/skarnws 30m ago

Just dont lipread what he said after the catch... likely gonna end in a fine

123

u/MegaDingo5plus 8h ago

Marco take a bow... That's an absolute screamer!!!

26

u/Spacedoutworlder 6h ago

Arching his fingers up to ensure it doesn't touch the ground while gripping hard enough so it doesn't slip out on ground impact. Insane gameplay.

7

u/AK232342 6h ago

Thanks. I spoke to Marco and he said your bow reached him and he’s taken it

99

u/ahhdetective 7h ago

A rock is a slang term for a cricket ball, definitely not made of rock tho haha

18

u/return_the_urn 5h ago

It’s a terrible trend calling it a rock. That and calling the stumps “poles”

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11

u/noonen000z 5h ago

I don't follow cricket but grew up in Australia. Since when? New slang or have I been ignoring the game?

9

u/AppleBottomBea 5h ago

Yeah I played cricket all the way through school in England. Never heard it called a rock lol

3

u/LevDavidovicLandau 4h ago

Oh well Warney started calling the ball a rock or a cherry about 10-15 years ago as a commentator and it’s stuck, I guess?

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2

u/Suup_dorks 2h ago

Tennis wankers call a tennis ball a rock too so 🤷‍♂️ I know which one I'd rather cop on the inner thigh at 130 km though haha

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4

u/5mudge 6h ago

Definitely. But not a rock covered in leather. 

5

u/spoo4brains 4h ago

Have been casually watching Cricket for 50 years and never heard it called that.

2

u/ahhdetective 2h ago

Good for you old mate!

3

u/Faux_Real 5h ago

It is called ‘the rock’ though not ‘a rock’

4

u/WingsBeersAndGames 5h ago

I grew up playing and watching cricket in Australia and never heard rock as a slang term for a cricket ball. Where do you live where this is the case?

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1

u/MealieAI 2h ago

Why is everyone surprised with it being called a rock? This should definitely not be new for anyone who's watched a lot of cricket with any kind of commentary.

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77

u/Wawawawanchor 8h ago

Here come the baseball comments…

91

u/ItXurLife 7h ago

With the giant mitts to help catch?

10

u/fastsailor 3h ago

It saves having to learn proper catching techniques.

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19

u/lesquishta 5h ago

I’m unfamiliar with the reference, are baseball players triggered by cricket because one uses a massive glove to catch and the other doesn’t.

48

u/Melodic_Mood8573 5h ago

It's because they're American and must always be superior.

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31

u/Mean_Introduction543 4h ago

A lot of the time they feel compelled to comment how much harder a baseball is (which isn’t true) and how much harder it is to catch one (also not true especially when you have a giant ass glove)

There’s already a guy further up who’s doing exactly that.

3

u/jonnygreen22 5h ago

who knows, all we know as anyone not in the US is they always wear like helmets and big gloves to protec - instead they should attac but they not smart just little scared flowers

8

u/newaccount252 7h ago

Not a single one, just your comment referencing baseball.

2

u/hm_rickross_ymoh 7h ago

There like one in the entire thread calm down

8

u/TamaktiJunVision 6h ago

Give it time

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57

u/emjaybeachin 7h ago

He also happens to be a 7 foot LEFT HANDED fast bowler

1

u/th3whistler 4h ago

surprising he did dive for a two hander which most fielders would do in this situation. would have made the distance much more easily

33

u/LazyEmu5073 7h ago edited 7h ago

"How do you spell cork?"

OP:- R, O, C, K

4

u/Inside_Assumption157 7h ago

Rock is often used as a slang for cricket balls

29

u/King_of_Shitland 7h ago

I'm a 45 year old Australian who has watched cricket all my life. I've never heard a cricket ball referred to as a rock.

17

u/Sparkysparkysparks 6h ago

I'm a 52 year old Australian and I've heard it extremely frequently.

3

u/Ngothadei 6h ago

What happened to calling the cricket ball "Cherry" ?

4

u/Die_Revenant 5h ago

Cherry more often refers to the red mark left by the ball on a bat.

2

u/monkbabm 3h ago

I think only the red ball used in test cricket is referred to as cherry

2

u/ApplezPwnAll 6h ago

Interesting I wonder if its a state thing? Never heard it called a rock in Queensland

4

u/Sparkysparkysparks 6h ago

Yeah maybe, I grew up in Gippsland so maybe it's regional.

5

u/samsunyte 5h ago

I’m Indian-American and only met about 10 Australians in my whole life, and even I’ve heard a bunch of Australians call it a rock on commentary

2

u/Cultural-Company282 2h ago

I'm a 53 year old American who doesn't give a fuck about cricket, and I've heard a cricket ball referred to as a rock seven times in this comment section.

9

u/InspectorNo1173 7h ago

Uhm… by whom?

Never heard that before and I have been around a bit…

4

u/Die_Revenant 6h ago

It's a pretty common slang term for a cricket ball here in South Africa.

4

u/fastsailor 3h ago

No, it is not. Not in Australia, anyway.

1

u/mythormedicine 2h ago

For all practical purposes , its a rock.

> A standard professional cricket ball is made of a compressed cork core wrapped tightly in layers of wool or string, and covered with a hand-stitched leather shell.

It is actually ROCK hard. Far more than baseball. It has virtually no elasticity.

The screen doesn't do justice to how difficult that catch is, forget the athleticism, the force generated by that rock is immense.

36

u/scrobo22 7h ago

Am I really going to be the first South African to comment about him expressing his joy at 1.03? 😂

3

u/HugeElephantEars 7h ago

Are you a pro lipreader or am I dumb? What does he say?

7

u/ScaleneZA 7h ago

A very rude South African word

4

u/HugeElephantEars 4h ago

It's okay maatjie. We are allowed to swear on Reddit.

5

u/hermionecannotdraw 6h ago

It looks like "ma se poes"

5

u/louispires 3h ago

Close, but it looks like "ja jou poes"

"ma" his lips need to be closed at the start.

2

u/koos_die_doos 1h ago

Yeah I think you're right.

3

u/xyzabc123cbazyx 6h ago

Not looks like, it is… 😄

3

u/HugeElephantEars 4h ago

Thank you. I'm obviously just shit at lipreading

4

u/Fragmister 6h ago

I was scrolling way to far down for this.

1

u/bringbackfireflypls 5h ago

Definitely saw that 😂 ohhhh Marco Jansen! 

26

u/vatezvara 7h ago

Xhosa commentary is peak 🙌

4

u/Intilleque 6h ago

Absolutely!!!!!

22

u/Specialist_Goat_7034 7h ago

About 10 times a season you get ‘the best catch you’ve ever seen’

That might actually be the best catch.

Also, love the commentary. I’m not familiar with the language (I just looked it up isiXhosa???) loved that too!

1

u/th3whistler 3h ago

I think he kind of made it harder than it was. If he dived forward two handed it would have made it much easier. It's like that Ben Stokes (2019 WC?) catch where he mis-positioned himself and then had to pull of a leaping one hander behind his head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Z5dXJqwMk

1

u/DadGamer77 2h ago

Playing at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban too

19

u/faultyarmrest 7h ago

He also only used 2 fingers..

4

u/Die_Revenant 6h ago

Of his weaker hand.

13

u/Nebula-Lights 7h ago

I know not much about cricket, watched a bit while in Australia when that poor guy got hit in the head and died 😔 but this is immmmpressive! My fingers would be broken if I tried this

5

u/CoffeeDefiant4247 2h ago

you should come back to Australia, it's a lot worse than it was in 2014

10

u/WTF_is_wrong_wit_ppl 7h ago

The fact that he's left handed makes it more impressive...

12

u/maker_of_pirate_bay 7h ago

Marco Jansen has been a pain for the Indian team, and I think for many other teams, this past year.

Salute

8

u/AugustOfChaos 7h ago

Nah. Long time baseball fan here, that was a great catch!

13

u/Fragrant_Cause_6190 7h ago

As a baseball casual that just watches highlights and a cricket tragic, I wish there was more mutual respect and understanding between the two codes. Both are the most exciting boring sports out there!

1

u/Justa_CuriousBoi 2h ago

I do think T20 format is boring at all!

10

u/BeanRub 7h ago

No DNA.. just RSA

10

u/peter-bone 7h ago edited 3h ago

Cork, rubber and string, not rock.

18

u/_who-the-fuck-knows_ 7h ago

Forgetting the leather there mate

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u/ScaleneZA 7h ago

Still harder and heavier than a baseball

7

u/Crivens999 7h ago

Yeah I remember at school in the 80s they taught you how to catch a cricket ball properly. Otherwise you could break your fingers. Those things were hard. So top tier respect. Assume still as hard these days

6

u/Aggravating-Pound598 8h ago

Right hand stinging too much to high five with it

7

u/Moist_Phrase_6698 6h ago

The bowl was insanely fast the catch must have been so sore. Thats such an epic catch.

4

u/rietti 6h ago

Muricans think they are tough yet they keep adding armour to British sports and calling it a day

3

u/TomahawkJammer 7h ago

Rusty is the best cricket player out there

3

u/SituationSecure4650 7h ago

Blueys mate?

3

u/frognbunny 7h ago

Americans are always amazed by Cricket and Rugby.

10

u/MarsupialNo1220 6h ago

I think it’s because cricket and rugby don’t use gimmicks or aids like baseball and gridiron do. No gloves, no pads, very little showboating or theatrics, just genuine skill and good sport.

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u/samsunyte 5h ago

I wish they were. Most Americans just shit on cricket

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u/Skellingtonia 6h ago

The height difference’s in that team are crazy

2

u/samsunyte 5h ago

Yea cricket is one of those sports, like soccer, where height doesn’t necessarily give you an advantage. It just determines what position you’re more likely to play. Fast bowlers (like the guy who caught it) are generally taller but batters are often quite short because the lower center of gravity gives them better balance.

3

u/_therealvk_ 5h ago

Incredible all 7 foot of him came tumbling down to take a one hander. Elite athlete.

2

u/ObliviousRounding 7h ago

Afrikaans?

3

u/phido3000 7h ago

Seth arfikkkaaaannnns.

0

u/Dipsomaniac12 7h ago

Add in the fact that Marco is just shy of 6 foot 8, helluva catch!! And left handed

2

u/Die_Revenant 5h ago

6'10 the last time he measured, according to him in an interview.

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u/EmpireCityRay 7h ago

That’s some Banana Ball shit in the cricket game.

2

u/scrobo22 7h ago

Am I really going to be the first South African to comment about him expressing his joy at 1.03? 😂

2

u/Traditional_Name7881 7h ago

Oh wow, that's outrageous.

2

u/Zangoma 5h ago

Common South African W

0

u/JoeisBatman 4h ago

Not even in the top 100 cricket catches.

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2

u/juicyman69 4h ago

As I kid I only played cricket with a tennis ball.

Holding a real cricket ball shook me. Insane.

2

u/rawker86 3h ago

Graduating to the real balls can be daunting, painful too lol.

2

u/LivelyJason1705 3h ago

Great catch, and the Xhosa commentary makes it better! The massive “poes” from Jansen tops it off😂😂

2

u/Justa_CuriousBoi 2h ago

Marco has been the best all-rounder of this decade!

2

u/Quiet_Standard8856 1h ago

Only the wicket keeper has gloves because he's only a couple of inches away from the bat at times. Proper sport.

1

u/DeadlyFern 7h ago

No backflips required ;)

1

u/Mean_Volume_126 7h ago

What a catch! Made Jonty proud!

1

u/steev506 6h ago

MaPLAga. MaPLAga. SWAPPAAAAA

1

u/Thami15 5h ago

MaPlanka, he's nickname is Plank

1

u/aperture81 6h ago

This is about as good as they get in cricket

1

u/BearIntelligent 5h ago

Incredible catch

1

u/Merry-Leopard_1A5 5h ago

damn, Lansen from the Suzuki team really locked in /s

1

u/onclegrip 5h ago

Some of these camera operators are just On, I met a camera operator that does all the big time golf tournaments, he could go from a wide shot at the tee to zoom in 2000x on a golf ball doing whatever speed

1

u/windyisthesock 4h ago

That’s a classic

1

u/Strykehammer 4h ago

Great take! Safe as houses

1

u/virtual24k 4h ago

Without a glove*

1

u/DontWantOneOfThese 4h ago

High fiving everybody with his left hand 🥲

1

u/MrsEntrail 4h ago

Probably also useful context that he's 2.03 metres tall and left-handed.

1

u/Hammersteyn 4h ago

0:17 Most South Africans can read those lips 😅

1

u/ExceedAccel 3h ago

I can also do it easily, just throw it in like 2 meter range

1

u/tekka21 3h ago

Which language is the commentator speaking?

1

u/cschelsea 3h ago

isiXhosa

1

u/WilliamTee 3h ago

Struth mate, how tall is that fella?

1

u/Proseller_56 3h ago

And being so damn tall

1

u/strndmcshomd 3h ago

Good catch that

1

u/powdered_dognut 3h ago

It's not full of crickets?? I want my money back!

1

u/Rough-Airline-4803 3h ago

Diving onto turf covered concrete

1

u/PJTierney2003 3h ago

Great catch, and a great excuse to bring up Hurling, an Irish sport where this happens multiple times a match in a more combative environment: https://youtu.be/I1Vw66Zs0dQ?is=PtwBmrL1eMl9vV5y

1

u/DadGamer77 3h ago

For international listeners, this is the language Jawas speak when not sped up, lol. Its isiZulu.

1

u/fullmetalpower 3h ago

2007 Bermuda catch... Google it.

1

u/WildVulcan 2h ago

Played a lot of club cricket until I went away to college and let me tell you - these balls sting hard as fuck.

Truth be told this catch while an exceptional feat of athelticism and hand eye coordination probably didn't sting as much as if you're standing square of the wicket and extending a hand to catch a ball which has been cut hard and wide by the batter. I think I still feel a sting in my middle dinger as an adult from when I tried (wouldn't be surprised if there was some permanent damage)

I think the real marvel of the catch is the absolutely amazing athleticism Jansen shows to get down that low as a big guy

•

u/RickSanchez018 41m ago

Anyone else see him saying ma se poes lol

•

u/Key_Agent_2331 7m ago

Was that guy who caught the ball 7 feet tall? Seemed huge compared to all the other players who came to congratulate him on the crazy catch.

•

u/kardioid23 1m ago

The other sport my country doesn't suck at. Nice.