Glenn Maxwell shares secret behind ‘greatest catch ever’ in Big Bash League

Glenn Maxwell has revealed the secrets behind his stunning catch in the Big Bash League that has been to be seen to be believed.

Maxwell has done a plethora of freakish acts of genius in T20 cricket but he took it to the next level with a classic catch for the ages, his fourth for the innings.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Maxwell’s stunning catch in the BBL.

The veteran leapt metres over the long on boundary to catch the ball in one hand before throwing it back into the field of play while in the air.

He calmly stepped back over the boundary rope to complete the catch and send a stunned Will Prestwidge (4) on his way.

The Channel 7 commentators couldn’t believe what they witnessed.

“The man is a genius. He’s not the Big Show, he’s a freak show. What a catch from Maxwell,” Alister Nicholson said.

“Insane. That is an unbelievable catch. To be here at this ground and to see that live in the flesh. That’s got to be up there with the greatest catches we have ever seen in this competition or any competition.”

Damien Fleming added: “This is one of the greats from Maxwell. One of the great athletes to play in the BBL. Off the bat, I was just thinking six runs. Absolutely brilliant.”

Maxwell was mic’d up with Channel 7 at the time and said all his practice finally paid off.

“I literally practised that for, like, 15 minutes before the game every time I play. That’s the most perfect one that’s actually come in that position,” he explained.

“I was in the air and I was like, ‘I tell you what, if I can’t do it now, after all the practice, I will be so angry with myself’.

“Just went straight in, knew exactly what I had to do. That’s the thing. I tell this to every person playing cricket, if you practise your fielding, practice the difficult things, the easier things in the game become easy.

“It is nice to see I’ve got a little bit of spring in these old legs still, which is nice. I reckon the key with that is take off early, spend as much time as you can in the air, so the catching and the throw can be in one motion.

“Good timing of the leap, and I threw the ball up at the right space so I could get back and complete the catch. Technically, I was really happy with that. But I’d done a lot of work on it. So, yeah, glad it came off.”

Stars captain Marcus Stoinis was left in awe.

‘”Greatest catch in the BBL ... there’s been some absolute screamers,” Stoinis said.

“I can’t think of any better catches in general. The thing about Maxi is that he practises that so much. For him to seize the opportunity and judge the flight of that ball and be arguably three metres over the boundary when he took it one handed ... he is a superstar.”

While commentators and players who witnessed the effort live were left speechless, the catch quickly went viral around the world.

Meanwhile, the Stars defeated Brisbane Heat by five wickets at the Gabba in a breakthrough win on Wednesday after losing their opening five games this season and the final three of last year’s campaign.

The Heat made 7-149 batting first thanks to a blistering and unbeaten 77 off 48 deliveries by Max Bryant.

The hosts had the perfect start to the Stars’ run chase with pacemen Xavier Bartlett (4-10) and Spencer Johnson rocking the top order to have the visitors teetering at 3-14.

The Stars needed someone to stand up and Stoinis (62 off 48) and England import Dan Lawrence (64no off 38) delivered in a 134-run partnership for the third wicket.

Stoinis walloped Paul Walter for four boundaries in one over and paced the run chase perfectly, bludgeoning anything loose to secure his first win this season as Stars captain.

Lawrence upped the ante at the end to take the pressure off Stoinis in an innings of class.

“It is a reward for a lot of hard work the boys have been putting in,” Stoinis told AAP.

“We’ve done a lot right those first five games so it was nice to go a little bit further, push the partnerships further and to hold onto some brilliant catches.”

The ball seamed around from the start and justified the decision by Stoinis to send the Heat in.

Heat skipper Colin Munro (1) continued his dire form in the BBL this summer and now has 23 runs in four innings.

Fellow opener Tom Banton (13) was the second wicket early for Mark Steketee against his former franchise.

When veteran Peter Siddle clean bowled Nathan McSweeney (9) with the first ball of his spell the hosts were on the rack.

Walter (21) threatened to cut loose before Bryant took charge, carting Steketee for three sixes and also thrice lofting Siddle into the crowd with massive blows.

He finished with six maximums in a blistering knock that included brute power and deft ramp shots to give his bowlers a total to defend.

Stoinis and Lawrence stepped up in the run chase to consign defending champions Heat to their third consecutive loss.

- With AAP