Alastair Cook catch: Watch the England captain take a brilliant juggling catch to dismiss batsman Brad Haddin in Ashes First Test

Cook was widely praised for his catching as well as his decision making

Alastair Cook palms the ball up into the air (Getty Images)

Alastair Cook combined great captaincy with great catching to dismiss Brad Haddin as England edged towards a famous victory in the First Test of the Ashes series against Australia.

Cook had already been praised for the decision to introduce Moeen Ali just before lunch as the spin bowler repaid him with the wicket of David Warner.

The England captain turned to Moeen once again when Shane Watson and Haddin were in the middle, and by now England were beginning to dream of an incredible victory.

It all came to a head when Haddin went after Moeen, only to drill the ball straight above Cook's head. The England skipper palmed the ball up into the air, then as he fell backwards he managed to reclaim the ball into his hands as he crashed to the ground.

Watch the video of the catch below:

Cook's team-mates immediately rushed to his side to celebrate, while a dejected Haddin trudged off the Sophia Gardens pitch back to return to the pavilion.

Alastair Cook takes the wicket of Adam Voges (Getty Images)

Cook celebrates taking a brilliant catch to dismiss Haddin (Getty Images)

Moeen Ali celebrates following Cook's brilliant catch (Getty Images)

England celebrate the wicket of Haddin (Getty Images)

A number of cricket fans immediately took to Twitter to praise Cook, not just for his heroics in holding onto the catch, but for his decision to bring Moeen back into the attack at just the right time.

Even Cook's long-time critic Piers Morgan accepted that his decision making had been excellent in a match that England were not favourites to win before the start of day one, but the march towards victory has suddenly restored Engllish hopes that an Ashes victory could be on the cards this summer.