Richie, Classic Catches and more: Why Channel 9 was one of its kind

#3 KFC Classic Catches

Before the T20 franchise leagues found a way to unabashedly earn some greens by plugging in the sponsor names for literally every event imaginable on a cricket field, Nine did it and they kept it elementary, devoid of all embellishment. The KFC Classic Catches was a segment, often shown in between deliveries on a live broadcast of the action, and it was as lucid as its title.

The premise was simple, all catches taken at the ground hosting the match, worthy of note, be it a typical Mark Waugh 'how did he do it?', or the likes of which fast bowlers somehow plucked in the outfield to etch their flukes into timeless veneration, or even David Boon's nonchalant picks diving around at short leg as if he had unbeknownst DLCs to boost his reflexes, were shown as the viewers and commentators with equal enthusiasm alike picked their favourite of the lot. Oh, and did I mention prizes for the viewers?

It was a great jog back to the past to celebrate the rawest and most impulsive of cricketing skills, catching, an aspect of cricket that sees improvement but in its essence invokes the same gasps be it any age.