10 Great Catches from World Cricket in 2014

Perhaps more than any other discipline in the game, fielding has been taken to another level in recent years, thanks to the frantic nature of modern, limited-overs cricket. 

Played at a blistering speed, the one-day international and Twenty20 cricket we witness now lends itself to fielding of a similar nature, of which spectacular catches are a marvellous by-product. 

From moments of staggering athleticism on the boundary line, to extraordinary two-man efforts, to brilliant pieces of anticipation, the year of 2014 gave us a staggering array of stunning catches. 

Across the following slides, we rank the 10 finest that were completed across the last calendar year. 

And as always, if you think there's another catch from 2014 that should feature here, leave it in the comments section below.

10. Steve Smith

When Australia's Steve Smith pulled off this catch against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in October, the cricket world wasn't even sure if it was within the rules of the game. 

Standing at first slip to the bowling of Xavier Doherty, Smith anticipated Fawad Alam's sweep shot and started moving toward leg slip. By the time the left-hander had made contact, the Australian was already well on his way, going on to complete a straightforward catch where a leg slip would have been standing. 

For a full explanation of the ruling, you can turn your attention to ESPN Cricinfo, part of which read: 

"

According to the MCC's Law 41.8, Smith's movement from slip to leg slip was unfair, but the ICC has adapted this - after consultation with the MCC - for international cricket to allow fielders a degree of movement at the discretion of the umpires.

"

9. Ajinkya Rahane

Traditionally, Indian cricketers haven't been renowned for their fielding abilities. Despite being a nation associated with churning out some of the world's finest talent, the country's stars have rarely excelled across the outfield.

Against England last summer, Ajinkya Rahane did his best to change that.

Off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling, Alex Hales launched a towering ball down the ground that looked almost certain to fall between the men in the deep. 

But Rahane, quick to react, charged in from his position on the boundary to take a spectacular catch while diving forward at full stretch.

8. Jordan Silk

On the second day of 2014, Jordan Silk pulled off this absolute screamer as the Sydney Sixers edged out the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League in Australia. 

Facing up to Brett Lee, Craig Kieswetter struck a thunderous blow down the ground that looked destined to find the fence. 

But Silk, in his position at mid-on and living up to his surname, moved effortlessly to his left before launching himself to claim a stunning catch in his left hand while horizontal to the ground. 

To appreciate it, you just have to watch the slow-motion replay.

7. Chris Lynn

The 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League produced no shortage of stunning catches, and Chris Lynn's grab against Royal Challengers Bangalore was right up there among the finest. 

With six runs needed from the last three balls, South African superstar AB de Villiers struck a high ball toward the mid-wicket boundary. The game essentially on the line, Lynn slipped as he positioned himself for the catch, finding himself on one knee and needing to prevent the ball from clearing the rope for a six. 

With remarkable athleticism, the Australian propelled himself up from the ground to catch the ball above his head, while also preventing himself from making contact with the boundary rope only inches behind him.

6. Spectator in New Zealand

This would have been a spectacular catch if it had been taken by one of the world's best cricketers. That it was taken by a fan at a domestic game in New Zealand only makes it better.

Sprinting forward down a grassy hill, Andrew McCulloch claimed this catch just inches above the ground with his right hand after Otago Volts batsman Michael Bracewell had struck a huge blow over the leg-side boundary. 

In a strange coincidence, McCulloch is the partner of Bracewell's sister, according to BBC Sport. 

Perhaps best of all, the catch netted him a cool 5,000 New Zealand dollars.

5. Adam Milne

In one of the most remarkable, two-part efforts you'll ever see, Adam Milne took this astonishingly athletic catch during a domestic Twenty20 game in New Zealand.

Representing Central Districts, Milne was positioned at mid-on when Anton Devcich chipped a flighted delivery from Ajaz Patel that appeared to be high enough to clear Milne's head. 

But with the ball almost behind him, Milne got his right hand to it to push the ball up into the air. As he fell to the ground, he twisted and claimed it with the same hand just above the turf.

And though there was some doubt as to whether the ball touched the ground, the umpires declared it a catch after examining the slow-motion replays.

4. Adam Lyth and Aaron Finch Part 1

So far has fielding come during the Twenty20 revolution that two-man catches on the boundary line, ones completed with such perfection, make you wonder if it's something the world's elite practice regularly. 

During the 2014 NatWest T20 Blast between Lancashire and Yorkshire in England, Yorkshire pair Adam Lyth and Aaron Finch completed one such catch, combining to dismiss the rampaging Tom Smith in stunning style.

Smith, who'd crunched 55 from 27 balls, launched Adil Rashid down the ground and would have been confident of clearing the boundary once more as he watched it sail into the deep.

But Lyth launched himself high to catch the ball in mid-air while over the rope, before throwing it back to Finch, who'd placed himself perfectly to claim the Englishman's throw. 

Remarkably, it wasn't the only time they would do it.

3. Adam Lyth and Aaron Finch Part 2

Yes, that's right. Here they are again, repeating their two-man effort against Lancashire with an even better one against Leicestershire in the same competition less than a month later. 

This time it was Josh Cobb who found himself remarkably dismissed off the bowling of Adil Rashid once more. 

But whereas the first time saw Finch perfectly placed to comfortably claim Lyth's throwback, the second occasion saw the Australian forced to claim the catch just above the ground after driving low to his right. 

After the first one, we didn't think such a catch could be topped. 

We were wrong.

2. Trent Boult

Despite being known primarily for his superb fast bowling, Trent Boult is beginning to make a name for himself as a taker of spectacular catches. 

Against the West Indies in 2013, he pulled off a stunning effort when fielding at point, but this one was even better. A lot better. 

Fielding at deep mid-wicket, Boult watched a heave from Kieron Pollard travel out toward him on the boundary. With the ball set to clear the rope, the New Zealander reached back and plucked the ball out of the air above his head with his right hand, but he was falling over the rope as he did so. 

With quick thinking, he threw the ball back behind himself before twisting and diving at full stretch to claim it just inside the boundary.

1. Kieron Pollard

It was always going to take something special to prevent Trent Boult from topping this list. And strangely, the man to do so was the player dismissed by the New Zealander's catch at Windsor Park in Dominica. 

It came during the 2014 edition of the IPL, a tournament that witnessed Pollard involved in so many of its most compelling moments. 

This catch was undoubtedly the best of the lot. 

During the Mumbai Indians' clash with the Rajasthan Royals, Pollard was at long-on when fellow West Indian Kevon Cooper struck a powerful blow down the ground off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh.

Like Boult did in his catch, Pollard claimed the ball with one hand as it was sailing over the rope. But not only was his initial catch more difficult, he also left himself with more ground to make up after throwing the ball further back into the field than Boult did. 

His recovery to complete the catch almost defied belief.