Leading Fielders in Test-ODI-T20 and World Cup Cricket-Cricket records

Leading fielders in test cricket-Cricket records

Fielders in cricket act as crouching tigers, who are always prepared to capitalize on any chance that comes their way whether it’s in the form of a catch or an opportunity for a run out. Test cricket has seen some good catches taken by a number of players. Amongst them, Indian cricket star Rahul Dravid stands on top of the list being the leading catch takers in test cricket. Dravid took 200 catches in 277 innings at a catches per inning rate of 0.722. Furthermore, the best catch per inning rate goes to Bob Simpson, a great all-rounder Australian cricket has ever seen. Bob Simpson took 110 catches in 117 innings at a catches per inning rate of 0.94. Following is the list of leading best fielders in test cricket.

Fielders	Country	Innings	Catches	Catches per Inning
Rahul Dravid	India	277	200	0.722
Mark Waugh	Australia	245	181	0.738
Ricky Ponting	Australia	296	178	0.601
Stephen Fleming	New Zealand	199	171	0.859
Jaques Kallis	South Africa	274	166	0.605
Mahela Jayawardene	Srilanka	209	165	0.789
BC Lara	West Indies	241	164	0.68
Mark Taylor	Australia	197	157	0.796
Allan Border	Australia	277	156	0.563
Matthew Hayden	Australia	205	128	0.624

Leading fielders in ODIs-Cricket records

Keeping a hawk’s eye on the ball is the key to a successful catch in cricket especially in limited overs cricket where the result of the match comes in few hours. One Day International cricket is full of some great catches, which led many cricketing nations to win the matches or even the ODI series.

Leading catches taker in ODIs is Srilanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, who has caught 168 batsmen in 368 innings, translating into a catches per inning ratio of 0. 515. Whereas, Michael Hussey of Australia has the best catches per inning ratio in the history of ODIs, which is 0.563. Following is the list of leading best fielders in ODIs.

Fielder	Country	Innings	Catches	Catches per inning
Mahela Jayawardene	Srilanka	326	168	0.515
Mohammad Azharuddin	India	332	156	0.469
Ricky Ponting	Australia	349	152	0.435
Sachin Tendulkar	India	436	134	0.307
Stephen Fleming	New Zealand	276	133	0.481
Muttiah Muralitharan	Srilanka	337	129	0.382
Allan Border	Australia	270	127	0.470
Rahul Dravid	India	264	124	0.469
Sanath Jayasuriya	Srilanka	440	123	0.279
Carl Hooper	West Indies	225	120	0.533

Leading fielders in T20 Internationals-Cricket records

The importance of fielding has a great role in a T20 match as there is very less time to respond to any eventuality whether it’s an opportunity of a run out or a catch. Catches, if taken, can turn the tables in favor of a team or if a catch is dropped, the situation can be vice versa. In a 20 overs match, everything is on fire; it’s a game of nerves rather than enthusiasm. There are examples when fielders playing under pressure lost their nerves and dropped even the easiest of catches. However, a few cricketers have managed to portray their supreme quality in the ground by taking good catches in T20 Internationals. Fore mentioned is the list of leading catch takers in T20 Internationals.

Fielder	Country	Innings	Catches	Catches/Inning
Ross Taylor	New Zealand	37	23	0.62
AB de Villiers	South Africa	23	22	0.96
MEK Hussey	Australia	27	18	0.67
GC Smith	South Africa	31	18	0.58
DJ Hussey	Australia	27	16	0.59
J Botha	South Africa	26	15	0.58
JP Duminy	South Africa	30	15	0.50
Shoaib Malik	Pakistan	32	14	0.44
SPD Smith	Australia	15	13	0.87
Umar Akmal	Pakistan	18	13	0.72

Leading fielders in Cricket World Cups

‘You’ve just dropped the World Cup, mate!’ said Australian captain Steve Waugh to Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa, who dropped the catch of the Aussies’ skipper in the semi final of 1999 Cricket World Cup.

Catches play an important role. If dropped, they can let the opponents win, however; if taken, on right time and place; they can even make your day. The leading catches taker in World Cups to date is Ricky Ponting who has taken 25 catches in 39 innings, ensuing in a catches per inning ratio of 0.64. However, on account of the best catches per inning ratio, Anil Kumble of India stands tall with 0.86. Following is the list of leading catchers/fielders in Cricket World Cup

Fielder	Country	Innings	Catches	Catches/Inn
Ricky Ponting	Australia	39	25	0.641
Sanath Jayasuriya	Srilanka	38	18	0.473
Chris Cairns	New Zealand	28	16	0.571
Inzamam-ul-Haq	Pakistan	34	16	0.470
Brian Lara	West Indies	34	16	0.470
Anil Kumble	India	18	14	0.777
Steve Waugh	Australia	33	14	0.424
PA de Silva	Srilanka	35	14	0.400
Carl Hooper	West Indies	20	13	0.650
Paul Collingwood	England	14	12	0.857