Cricket, especially Test cricket, is a game of moments — a split second can have repercussions for two or three days down the line.
Nobody knows that more than Jos Buttler right now, who, just a couple of hours after taking an absolute screamer, suffered a sad reversal of fortunes.
Ben Stokes dug a shorter but slower delivery to Marnus Labuschagne who mistimed a pull shot, ballooning up off his glove and back towards the head of the English wicketkeeper — who put it down.
LIVE UPDATES: Aussies rocked as captain ruled out due to COVID-19 rules
READ MORE: Warner’s selection a gamble Australia must take, says Taylor
READ MORE: NSW great’s golden line that shut up Fatty Vautin
Labuschagne was on 21 at the time of the missed catch. At the time of writing, he has passed the half century mark and looks in fine form.
“He’s put that down, should have swallowed that,” said Fox Sports commentator Adam Gilchrist.
“This is a dolly. I know he’s diving, but he should have taken that.
“I think he had more time than what he actually knew.”
Few are better equipped to judge a keeper’s catching technique than Gilchrist, who had earlier waxed lyrical about Buttler, whose glovework gave Stuart Broad his first wicket of the series.
“You think about the technique and the power, watch the drive — he moves late,” Gilchrist said.
“Good little shuffle and then look at the strength and power in the legs to get horizontal.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!