Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Joe Root, Mahela Jayawardene, Steve Smith (Source: @sportstarweb/X.com, @ICC/X.com)
In the long history of Test cricket, there have been many players who have done a tremendous job, but not just with bat or ball. These are those who have left their mark on the ground while fielding for their side.
They take crucial catches at crucial junctures and enforce important run-outs with their athleticism. These players have been an invaluable asset for their respective sides in international cricket. Therefore, in this article, we will have a look at players who have taken the most catches in Test cricket while being a fielder.
4. Jacques Kallis - 200 Catches
South Africa's legendary Jacques Kallis shares the number four spot on this list with 200 catches in Test cricket history. Kallis featured in 166 Test matches, took a total of 200 catches with a catches-per-innings ratio of 0.634, with a maximum of four dismissals in one innings.
His career, spanning from 1995 to 2013, saw him emerge as one of the finest all-rounders in cricketing history, scoring 13,289 runs with the bat and picking up 292 wickets in the longest format of the game. Kallis' ability to change the complexion of the game, not just with the bat or ball but also in the field, turned out to be a massive factor for South Africa during most part of this century.
4. Steve Smith - 200 Catches
At number four on this list is Australia's batting stalwart Steve Smith. Debuting in 2010 and currently a massive part of the Kangaroos' side, Smith has currently taken 200 catches in 118 matches, where his catch-per-innings ratio is 0.888, while he's taken a maximum of five catches in an innings.
Smith has been an outstanding fielder while known to be a wonderful batter, where he has amassed 10,424 runs with the bat. The right-hander has done wonders on the field, and it has been no different since he has been one of their finest fielders, especially in the slip cordon.
3. Mahela Jayawardene - 205 Catches
At number three on this list is Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene. After playing in a total of 149 Test matches, Jayawardene grabbed 205 catches with a catch-per-innings ratio of 0.759, where he plucked a maximum of four catches in an innings. Making his debut in 1997, Jayawardene went on to play until 2014, where he scored 11,814 runs with the bat, as he turned out to be one of their most legendary players to come out of the Island nation.
The fact that Jayawardene was not just an outstanding batter but a wonderful fielder as well helped him in his captaincy career. He was as elegant as someone could be while being classy in all aspects of the game. The biggest thing about Jayawardene was his excellent eye-hand coordination that made him grab stunners with ease, as he was agile and quick to respond on his feet.
2. Rahul Dravid - 210 Catches
Now, moving to the number two player on the list is India's Rahul Dravid, who was number one previously but has now slipped down to number two as he has a total of 210 catches to his name in 164 matches with a catch-per-innings ratio of 0.697, while he grabbed a maximum of three catches at once in any innings.
Retiring in 2012, Dravid, who made his debut in 1996, thumped 13,288 runs in the white jersey, where he averaged 52.31 with the bat. Dravid was best known for his ability to stay at the crease and disturb the bowlers with his resilience and gritty attitude.
While on the field, he was nothing less than a blessing for the fielders, as he would hardly drop any ball, being the player with a safe pair of hands in the Indian side back then. Not just being a fielder, Dravid also occasionally donned the gloves, making sure that he would help his side in crunch situations when they needed a wicket-keeping option. Dravid was always mostly in the slips, where he would grab catches that would sometimes seem difficult, but he would make them look easy.
1. Joe Root - 211 Catches*
Now, talking about the number one player on the list is England's newly crowned Joe Root, who moved out to the top of the ladder after grabbing a stunner against India in the ongoing third Test at Lords in London, where he sent back Karun Nair for 40 after catching him in the slips with a one-handed stunner.
With this catch, Root now has 211 catches in 156 Test matches, where his catch-per-innings ratio is 0.72, while he has a maximum of four catches in an innings so far. Root made his debut in 2012 and is currently an active member of the English side, which is performing well, thanks to Root's top exploits with the bat.
The right-handed batter is a legend in his own right, with 13,219 runs so far in Tests, he has averaged 50.84 in red-ball cricket. Root is not just an excellent fielder but also a stylish batter who has done terrifically well, while also providing support to the side with excellent off-break bowling, picking up 73 wickets so far in as many Tests. Joe Root is the definition of a perfect all-rounder who can score runs, pick wickets, and also grab stunners that could trouble the opposition.
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