As everyone knows there are three aspects of cricket which are batting, bowling & fielding. There is no doubt that a team needs good batting and bowling both to win but fielding is a crucial aspect of the game as well. Good fielding helps a team to choke the opposition and force them to play risky shots in order to make runs. A good bowler may take wickets in a match and may not, same is the case with the batsmen but a good fielder will always save runs for his team. There have been many great fielders. Today we are going to look at the top 10 Australian cricketers with the most catches in test cricket.
10. Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh is a former Australian cricketer. He is one of the greatest captains that Australia ever had. He captained the Australian side in the 1999 world cup and made his team victorious. He made his test debut on 26 December 1985 against India. He had a 19 year-long test career in which he scored 10927 runs in 168 test matches at a brilliant average of 51.06. He was also a great fielder. He mainly used to field at slips and gully.
Matches:- 168
Catches:- 112
Maximum:- 3
Catches per innings:- 0.352
9. Greg Chappell
Greg Chappell is a former Australian cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman. He is the second of three brothers who played for Australia. Chappell was known for his elegant strokes and high concentration level while playing. He was a good bowler as well who used to bowl right-arm medium pace. He made his test debut for Australia on 11 December 1970 against England. He played 87 tests for Australia in which he scored 7110 runs at an average of 53.86 with 24 centuries and 31 half-centuries. At that time when he retired he held the record for most catches in Test Cricket.
Matches:- 87
Catches:- 122
Maximum:- 4
Catches per innings:- 0.739
8. Shane Warne
This man does not need any introduction as he is one of the greatest spinners of all time. Shane Warne made his test debut on 2 January 1992 against India. He is one of the five cricketers who are part of “Wisden Cricketers of the Century”. He played 145 tests for Australia and took 708 wickets at a magnificent bowling average of 25.41. He also scored 12 fifties in his test career. He also captained Australia in ODIs. He was a successful fielder as well especially at the slips.
Matches:- 145
Catches:- 125
Maximum:- 3
Catches per innings:- 0.444
7. Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden is a former Australian cricketer and was an important part of Australia’s dominance in world cricket under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting. He was known for his powerful and aggressive style of batting. He was a left-handed opening batsman. He made his test debut on 4 March 1994 against South Africa. He played 103 tests for Australia and scored 8625 runs at an average of 50.73. He also holds the record for the highest individual score by an Australian batsman in test cricket. He was a regular test fielder for his team.
Matches:- 103
Catches:- 128
Maximum:- 4
Catches per innings:- 0.624
6. Steve Smith
Steve Smith is one of the best batsmen of the current generation. He is known for his classical shots and unorthodox style of batting. He made his debut for Australia as a leg-spin bowler but later on emerged as one of the best batsmen of modern times. He made his test debut on 13 July 2010 against Pakistan. So far he has played 80 test matches and scored 7667 runs at an amazing average of 60.84 with 27 centuries and 32 half-centuries. In tests, he is mainly seen fielding at the slip position.
Matches:- 81*
Catches:- 133*
Maximum:- 5*
Catches per innings:- 0.863
5. Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke is a former Australian cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman. He was the captain of Australia in the 2015 world cup and led his team to victory. He made the most runs in the calendar year of 2012 in tests. He made his test debut on 6 October 2009 against India. He had an 11 year-long test career in which he played 115 tests and scored 8643 runs at an average of 49.10 with 28 centuries and 27 half-centuries. He mainly used to field at the slips in tests.
Matches:- 115
Catches:- 134
Maximum:- 3
Catches per innings:- 0.600
4. Allan Border
Allan Border is a former cricketer and captain of the Australian team. He won the first world cup for Australia which was in the year 1987. Allan Border made his test debut on 29 December 1978 against England. He had a 16 year-long test career. He played 156 tests in which he scored 11174 runs at an average of 50.56 with 27 centuries and 63 half-centuries. He was primarily a left-handed batter but got occasional success as a spinner.
Matches:- 156
Catches:- 156
Maximum:- 4
Catches per innings:- 0.563
3. Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor is a former Australian cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman. He also captained Australia from 1994 to 1999. He made his test debut on 26 January 1989 against the quality side of the West Indies. He had a ten year – long test career in which he played 104 tests and scored 7525 runs at an average of 43.49 with 19 centuries and 40 half-centuries. He is widely credited for the dominance of Australia in test cricket at that time. His main fielding position was at first slip.
Matches:- 104
Catches:- 157
Maximum:- 4
Catches per innings:- 0.796
2. Mark Waugh
Mark Waugh is a former Australian cricketer and the twin brother of former Australian captain Steve Waugh. He was a right-handed batsman and one of the most rhythmic shot players in cricket. He was known for his effortless shots like drive, cut, and short-arm pull. He made his test debut on 25 January 1991 against England. He had an 11 year-long career in which he played 128 tests and scored 8029 runs at an average of 41.81 with 20 centuries and 47 half centuries. He was predominantly a slip fielder.
Matches:- 128
Catches:- 181
Maximum:- 4
Catches per innings:- 0.738
1. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting is a former captain and cricketer of Australia. He is the most successful captain for Australia as he led his team to victories of the 2003 and 2007 world cup. He made his test debut on 8 December 1995 against Sri Lanka. He stands second in the list of most international centuries scored. He had a 17 year-long test career. He played 168 tests and scored 13378 runs at an average of 51.85 with 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries. He mainly fielded at the slip position.
Matches:- 168
Catches:- 196
Maximum:- 3
Catches per innings:- 0.597
