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In a feat that has left both cricket fans and physics enthusiasts in awe, England‘s star wicketkeeper Jos Buttler has officially claimed the world record for the highest-ever catch of a cricket ball. Attempted in early February 2026 against the stunning backdrop of Cape Town, South Africa, the catch was part of a special drone challenge that pushed the boundaries of human reflexes and vision.
World record for highest cricket catch set by Jos Buttler! Check out the height and record he just surpassed
The record-breaking attempt was filmed for the YouTube channel ‘The Switch,’ hosted by Buttler’s former England teammate and cricket legend Kevin Pietersen. Dressed in his wicketkeeping gear, Buttler successfully tracked and caught a cricket ball dropped from a drone hovering at a staggering 122 metres (approximately 400.26 feet) above the ground. At that height, the ball reaches terminal velocity, making the impact equivalent to catching a projectile launched with extreme force. The difficulty was amplified by the wind currents in Cape Town and the ‘dot-like’ appearance of the ball as it began its descent.
By clutching the ball safely at 122 metres, Buttler shattered the previous record of 119.86 metres (393 feet) set by Australian Thimothy Shanon Jebaseelan in 2021. This feat places him at the top of an elite list of cricketers who have attempted high-altitude catches, including Nasser Hussain and Alyssa Healy. While the video evidence is clear, the catch is currently awaiting final official verification from Guinness World Records to be formally entered into the archives.
Here’s the video:
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Buttler’s T20 World Cup 2026 form for England
In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, Buttler has carried his record-breaking momentum onto the field, though England’s campaign has seen mixed fortunes. In the tournament opener against Nepal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Buttler played a brisk cameo of 26 off 17 balls, a knock that held significant historical weight. With those runs, he officially surpassed Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene (1,016 runs) to become the third-highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, currently sitting at 1,039+ runs.
While he reached this personal milestone, his recent outing against the West Indies was more challenging; he was dismissed for a modest score as England struggled against a relentless spin attack, eventually losing by 30 runs. Despite the team’s recent hiccup, Buttler remains England’s most dangerous weapon, trailing only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the all-time list. His ability to anchor the innings while maintaining a strike rate of over 145 makes him the primary target for opposition bowlers as England looks to navigate a tough Group C.
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