Sarah Ansell on her shot of Joe Denly taking a stunning one-handed diving catch to dismiss James Franklin in a 2017 Royal London One-Day fixture at Canterbury’s St. Lawrence Ground.

He’d already taken two wickets before this photo and I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to stay on Joe and hope for a nice celebration shot’. And then this happened.

Caught-and-bowled chances move very fast and I’ve not got the best record for taking them. I took this from the fire escape on the side of the Colin Cowdrey Stand; the only place in the ground where I could have got this angle, and so cleanly. Luck was on my side!

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Once the ball has left the batting crease you’ve got no control over what is in the frame and I love this because it’s just a photo of Joe doing something really amazing. He’s looking at the ball, his foot is just off the ground and there’s no background fielder; it’s just pure green and the purple stumps. I was really happy I got this picture, both for me as a photographer and also for Joe – it’s always pleasing to think you’ve recorded such a moment for a player, especially in a county game where there might only be one person covering the match.

I had several frames afterwards and there is another one I love of Sam Northeast just looking on in sheer disbelief that Joe took the catch.

That is amazing photography!!!! ??

— Joe Denly (@joed1986) May 7, 2017

I was very sorry when Joe left Kent for Middlesex and really happy when he came back and to see him doing well again. I’ve always had a soft spot for him because when I started watching cricket again after moving back to Canterbury 10 years ago, in the very first match I went to see he carried his bat for 115 when Kent were skittled for 199 against Shane Warne’s Hampshire.

The following year I was going along regularly – I was still just a fan with a camera then – and I remember after the last match of the season the players started distributing their shirts. Joe actually called down to me and threw down one of his tops. I’ve got a photograph of me sitting on the outfield about 5 o’clock wearing Joe’s top. It’s a bit fan-girly for somebody of my age!

First published in July 2017.