Fielding is one of the most important aspects of any match, as it can help any team save runs for runs. In cricket, slip is the most challenging position to field, as any fielder needs to have great reflexes and concentration. A slip fielder must have excellent sharp senses, concentration, and soft hands. In today's era, great slip fielders like Ben Stokes and Aiden Markram exist. But there have been some great slip fielders who are famous for their excellent slip fielding.
1. Mark Waugh
Undoubtedly, Mark Waugh is the best slip fielder in cricket history. Even Graham Gooch described him as the best natural catcher in the game of cricket. That's why Mark Waugh always fielded at slips, and very rarely, he used to miss the catches. With his extraordinary slip catches, Australian bowlers got more wickets, as Mark Waugh quickly took impossible catches. In 128 test matches, Mark Waugh took 181 brilliant catches, and in 244 ODIs, he took 108 catches. Till today, Australia has yet to get a fielder like him.
2. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid is the current head coach of Team India. During his playing days, he was one of the world's most technically sound batsmen. Rahul Dravid was not only good at batting but also at slip fielding. He is one of the players who made slip-catching look easy. In his 164 tests, Rahul Dravid has successfully taken 210 catches, the highest number of catches by a non-keeper. In ODIs, he has taken 196 catches, which is outstanding for any player. After his retirement, India still missed brilliant fielding at the slip position.
3. Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene is one of the best batsmen that Sri Lanka has ever produced. But Mahela Jayawardene is not only a master of batting; he is also the best fielder that Sri Lanka has ever seen. His reflexes and concentration at slips are mind-blowing. In fact, in test cricket, Mahela Jayawardene has taken 205 catches, which is the second highest by a non-keeper, and he has also taken 218 ODI catches, which is the highest by a non-keeper. Across all formats, Mahela Jayawardene has successfully taken 440 catches, which is the highest by any fielder.
4. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting is the best captain and batsman that Australia has ever produced. Under his captaincy, Australia was an unbeatable team. Ricky Ponting was a great batsman, leader, and one of the best fielders in cricket history. In his 168 tests, Ricky Ponting brilliantly took 196 and 160 catches in ODIs. Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh also made Australia the best team in fielding. That's why he is considered one of the finest Slip fielders in cricket history.
5. Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith is the most successful test captain in cricket history. Apart from being one of the vest captains for South Africa, he was also one of the finest slip fielders in cricket history, and his reflexes were very sharp. Graeme Smith has played 117 tests and 197 ODIs in his career, successfully taking 169 and 105 catches, respectively. When Graeme Smith used to field at slips, the bowlers also used to have trust in him, and that's why South Africa has been the No. 1 test team for many years.
6. Stephen Fleming
Like Graeme Smith and Ricky Ponting, Stephen Fleming is the best captain of his respective country, New Zealand. Stephen Fleming was not merely a great captain; he was one of the most agile fielders that New Zealand has ever produced. Stephen Fleming was a player who revolutionized New Zealand's fielding standard, and his stats also prove the same. In 111 test matches, Stephen Fleming has successfully taken 171 catches and 133 catches in ODIs. Even when he mostly fielded at slips where the ball came at a faster speed.
7. Mohammad Azharuddin
There was a time when India's fielding used to be below average. After Mohammad Azharuddin came to the Indian team, he showed everyone his fielding skills. Like his batting, his fielding skills were also a treat to watch. When Mohammad Azharuddin used to field at slips, he quickly used to take brilliant and difficult catches. He was a player who changed the Indian's fielding standard. In his 99 test matches, Mohammad Azharuddin has taken 105 catches, and in 334 ODIs, he has successfully taken 156 catches.
8. Andrew Strauss
Andrew Strauss is one of the most successful test captains that England has ever seen. Andrew Stauss was one of England's best slip fielders, besides being one of the finest batsmen and captains. In his career, Andrew Strauss has successfully taken 121 catches in tests and 57 catches in ODIs. His excellent slip-catching helped James Anderson and Stuart Broad take more wickets. By his agile fielding, Andrew Strauss has dismissed many world-class batters.
9. Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor is a former Australian captain and opening batsman. He was one of the best slip fielders of his era as well. Standing in the slip to Shane Warne was challenging for any fielder. But Mark Taylor used to do it perfectly and has also taken many impossible catches at slips. Mark Taylor fielded slips throughout his career and always remained cool and calm. Mark Taylor has taken 157 catches in his test career, and in ODIs, he has taken 56 catches.
10. Carl Hooper
Carl Hooper is a former right-handed batsman of the West Indies and one of the best slip fielders for the West Indies. Any fielder at slips must have sharp reflexes and unbreakable concentration to take any problematic catch, and Carl Hooper was one of them. Standing in the slips to Curtly Ambrose and Walsh was challenging for any fielder, but Carl Hooper did it effortlessly. He has taken 115 catches in 102 test matches and 120 in 227 ODI matches.
