Fielding is key in cricket. Good fielders can turn any game around. A batsman may score runs or not. A bowler may take a wicket or not. But a good fielder will save runs and catch balls for his team. We’ve seen several situations in international cricket where a superb catch wins a match by sending a team’s stalwart to the pavilion.
In test matches, fielders are vital because bowlers rely on the slip cordon. Most test catchers are slip fielders, which is an intriguing fact. The non-wicket keepers with the most test catches are listed.
Australia Vs. Pakistan, Hobart, 1999
The best fielder to ever play the game was most likely Mark Waugh. During his stellar career, he was known for making many spectacular catches.
But the catch he made at Hobart against Pakistan to get rid of Inzamam ul Haq is without a doubt the best catch ever made in Test cricket. At 118, Inzamam was doing a great job of batting. Shane Warne sent him a ball that he cut hard, but the ball went in a different direction than he wanted.
Now, it’s important to remember that Mark Waugh was standing at first slip, just 10 yards from the firing line, watching the ball move from the bat.
He seemed to misjudge how fast the ball was going, but thanks to his quickness and skill as a fielder, he was still able to get back and catch it with one hand, even though it looked like the ball had gone by him. Even though it all happened in less than a second, there was so much going on while he caught the ball that it was the best catch ever made in Test cricket.
West Indies Vs. Australia, Brisbane, 1979
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Though Vivian Richards is remembered more for his fearless batting, he was also a valuable asset for the West Indies in the field and was considered one of the greatest of his period. Richards took a fantastic catch to get rid of Allan Border in the very first Test of the West Indies tour of Australia, which took place in Brisbane.
Slip-catching against the West Indian quicks of the era, especially ‘Big Bird’ Joel Garner, was a difficult position to play in. The border went for the cover drive, but the thick outside edge sailed into the third slip, where Richards was waiting.
As the ball was speeding away from him, Richards utilized nothing but his natural agility and instincts to leap to his left and make a diving, one-handed catch. One of the best catches ever made, especially given the ball was moving at such a rapid pace.
Australia Vs. South Africa, Melbourne, 1993
David Boon, a former Australian batsman, may not have looked like the most physically fit cricketer, but he was one of the best close-in catchers of his day thanks to his incredible reflex action catches at silly point and short leg.
He took a spectacular catch at a silly point to get rid of Hansie Cronje off Shane Warne in the first Test of the home series against South Africa. To counter Shane Warne’s turn from round the wicket, a well-set Cronje stepped out, but he only managed to get a leading edge. Boon, stationed at a silly point, must have anticipated a hit to mid-on or mid-wicket.
But he was quick enough on his feet to make up enough ground and catch the edge, leaving Cronje in a state of bewildered disbelief. It was only because of Boon’s extraordinary skills as a close-in catcher that the batsman, who had crossed him when he got the leading edge, was caught in the act.
South Africa Vs. India, Ahmedabad, 1996
For the first time, the former South African cricketer, Jonty Rhodes, was able to perform spectacular feats of fielding in almost every game, making fielding a show for cricket spectators.
One of the best catches ever taken in a test match occurred on the first day of the 1996 test match against India when he caught Sachin Tendulkar in a spectacular diving effort.
Tendulkar had advanced to off-spinner Pat Symcox and smashed an on-drive toward short mid-wicket with a lot of force. In a typical situation, the ball would have raced toward the boundary, but Rhodes, who was stationed at short mid-wicket, threw himself forward as the ball was going away from him and completed the catch with both hands.
Rhodes was perfect for making the catch because he could act quickly, think ahead, and trust his instincts.
