Veteran Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell produced a jaw-dropping moment of brilliance during the opening T20I against South Africa in Darwin on Sunday, August 10. While his batting woes continued, Maxwell reminded the cricketing world why he remains one of the most gifted fielders in the game with an extraordinary boundary catch that left fans, commentators, and even the opposition stunned.
The Proteas needed 21 runs from the final five balls, with opener Ryan Rickelton cruising on 71 off 55 balls. Rickelton lofted a delivery toward long-on, where Maxwell, stationed near the rope, timed his jump to perfection. While off-balance, he caught the ball, tossed it high into the air, stepped back inside the field of play, and completed the catch just inches from the boundary line.
Rickelton’s dismissal, which ended his fine knock featuring seven fours and a six, became the talking point of the match, not just for the athleticism but for its legality under the ICC’s updated boundary catch rules, introduced in June 2024. Multiple TV replays were required before the third umpire confirmed that Maxwell’s effort was fully compliant.
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Under the revised laws, a fielder making airborne contact with the ball beyond the boundary must land and remain entirely inside the field of play. If they touch the ball again while airborne outside the boundary, they must still complete the play by landing within the rope. Maxwell’s execution ticked every box, drawing instant comparisons to Suryakumar Yadav’s iconic catch in the 2024 T20 World Cup final—coincidentally also against South Africa.
GLENN MAXWELL DOES IT AGAIN 🤩 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/FQkfbqLzpB
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 10, 2025
Maxwell’s magic moment proved pivotal in Australia’s 17-run victory, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Earlier, he had already impacted the game by taking a sharp catch at slip to dismiss Tristan Stubbs for 37, breaking a dangerous 72-run partnership. With the ball, Maxwell delivered a controlled spell of 1/29 in his four overs, keeping the Proteas’ chase under pressure.
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However, his batting form remains a concern. Coming in at a precarious 73/5, the 36-year-old managed just one off four balls, extending his run to 18 consecutive international innings without a fifty. His struggles mirror a poor IPL 2025 campaign for the Punjab Kings, where he averaged only eight.
Maxwell will be desperate to turn the tide with the bat when the second T20I gets underway in Darwin on August 12, but for now, his gravity-defying grab will be replayed for years to come.
