Fielding is a highly underrated skill in the game of cricket. Since cricket is a team sport, each run saved or every timely catch can be very beneficial. Hence, these days, we have seen specific focus is given to training players in this department. In this article, we take a look at six fielders who have taken more than 300 catches in International Cricket.
While circumstances drive a batsman or a bowler to remain attentive to the game, sometimes fielders could lose concentration. This can have an overall bearing on crucial junctures. At the same time, it is also noteworthy that a cricketer has to develop his/her fielding and catching skills in the proper technique. With this, he/she can become a true team player.
6. Stephen Fleming – 306 Catches
Test Catches – 171; ODI Catches – 133; T20I Catches – 2
Stephen Fleming is one player, who often goes under the radar. He was an exceptional batsman for New Zealand but hardly gets recognized. The left-hander was also a brilliant captain and is currently a successful coach. Yet, he does not get the praise he deserves.
In the fielding department, too, the Kiwi has done excellent things, which are barely noticed. In his career, the player has taken 306 catches, and with a dismissal per innings score of 0.637, he was a massive force on the field with a safe pair of hands.
5. Rahul Dravid – 334 Catches
Test Catches – 210; ODI Catches – 124
Rahul Dravid is the best fielder that Indian has seen and arguably the best slip-catcher that the game has witnessed. The former Indian skipper currently holds the record as the highest catch-taker in the Test format. He has collected a total of 210 catches in this format.
In ODI’s, too, he has done exceptionally done as a catcher. It has to be mentioned that Rahul was also a part-time wicket-keeper and all his catches with the gloves have not been counted in this statistic. Yet, he has taken over 300 International Catches.
4. Jacques Kallis – 338 Catches
Test Catches – 200; ODI Catches – 131; T20I Catches – 7
Let alone with the bat and the ball, Kallis has done an excellent job on the field as a catcher too. The South African all-rounder has also taken more than 300 catches in International Cricket.
While he has collected 200 catches in the five-day format, Kallis has 131 and 7 catches in ODI and T20I cricket, respectively. Kallis mostly fielded at positions closer to the bat and since his reflexes were good, he held on to most of the edges.
3. Ross Taylor – 340 Catches
Test Catches – 155; ODI Catches – 139; T20I Catches – 46
Ross Taylor, interestingly, has collected almost an equal number of catches in the Test and ODI format. This trend is unlike the other members on the list.
With a few more years left in his career, the Kiwi can also climb up the chart in this list. He also got an opportunity to play a lot of T20I cricket, which the others in this group could not enjoy.
2. Ricky Ponting – 364 Catches
Test Catches – 196; ODI Catches – 160; T20I Catches – 8
Ricky Ponting is the second-highest catch-taker in International Cricket. In 717 innings, the Aussie player collected a total of 364 catches, out of which the majority of them came in the Test games. Like Dravid, Ponting was also known for his exceptional fielding the slip-cordon.
Although his T20I career was short, Ricky took eight catches in this format. In ODI’s, he hardly missed anything that flew by him and produced some breathtaking catches, as well.
1. Mahela Jayawardene – 440 Catches
Test Catches – 205; ODI Catches – 218; T20I Catches – 17
Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene has the highest number of International Catches in the history of the game. As much as he had an impact with the bat, the former Sri Lankan skipper was equally adept at taking catches in vital areas of the park.
He is also the only cricketer, so far, who has collected more than 400 catches in International Cricket. It is in the ODI’s that the cricketer took most of his catches. In 448 50-over games, Mahela took 218 catches, equalling almost one catch every two games.
