In the 2007 World Cup match between Bermuda and India, the cricketing world witnessed something that defied all laws of physics, probability, and common sense. Dwayne Leverock, Bermuda's medium-pace bowler who weighed approximately 127 kilograms (20 stone) and bore more resemblance to a nightclub bouncer than an international athlete, took a catch at slip that would have been remarkable for a svelte Olympic gymnast — but was absolutely jaw-dropping given his dimensions.
Robin Uthappa edged and the ball flew to Leverock's left at slip. What happened next was extraordinary — the big man launched himself horizontally through the air like a whale breaching the surface of the ocean, stretching his left hand out to pluck the ball one-handed. He hung in the air for what seemed like an impossible amount of time, as if gravity itself had paused to admire the spectacle before remembering its job. Then he crashed to earth with the ball safely pouched, hitting the ground with an impact that registered on local seismographs.
The celebration that followed was even more entertaining. Leverock leapt up — which itself was an athletic achievement — and sprinted in celebration, arms pumping, teammates mobbing him, the whole Bermuda team going absolutely berserk. The sprint was roughly ten meters before Leverock's cardiovascular system issued a formal complaint, but those ten meters were covered with the joyful abandon of a man who had just done something no one — least of all himself — believed was possible.
The catch was replayed endlessly on television and became one of the defining images of the 2007 World Cup. India went on to win the match easily, but nobody remembers the result — they remember the big man flying through the air. The catch inspired children around the world who didn't look like typical athletes to believe that sporting greatness comes in all shapes and sizes. It also inspired cricket teams everywhere to stop assuming that the largest man on the team couldn't be trusted at slip.