Maxwell takes freakish boundary catch

Freakish Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has taken a strong contender for catch of the year with an extraordinary juggling effort on the boundary in the fourth ODI against England.

With England needing just 18 runs from the final five overs, Liam Plunkett blasted Pat Cummins to deep midwicket where Maxwell was fielding.

After the all-rounder somehow managed to prevent a six and seemingly claim a catch, commentator David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd said, "Oh now then, we’re going to have to have a good long look at this".

And wasn't it worth it?

Replays showed that Maxwell initially took the catch with one leg in the field of play but with his momentum taking him over the boundary rope, he was forced to flick the ball into the air.

Showing stunning athleticism, the all-rounder took three quick steps over the rope before skipping back into the field of play and reeling the ball in with his left hand.

“Oh my Lord, that is amazing,” former England star Nasser Hussain said in commentary after seeing the replay.

“We all knew the rule, the new rule. Well, a couple didn't," said Pat Cummins, the bowler who benefited from Maxwell's brilliance.

"He was pretty confident when he was running in.

"It just shows he's a got to be up there with the best in world the way he fields.

"He saves plenty of runs in games, and again, probably kept us in the game with those two catches in the last 10 overs."

It was only a rule change from October 2013, which allows players to claim catches even if they haven’t stood back in the field of play before touching the ball, which rewarded Maxwell’s absurd piece of skill.

Maxwell actually criticised on rule change on Twitter in January during a Big Bash game.

It wasn’t if the stunning catch was the only contribution Maxwell made in a losing side either.

The all-rounder had earlier taken a one-handed diving screamer at backward point to remove England captain Eoin Morgan.

Maxwell also claimed the wicket of Jonny Bairstow with the ball and top scored for Australia with the bat, smashing 85 from just 64 deliveries as Australia recovered from 3-30 to post 7/299.