5 best English silly point / short leg fielders of all time

#1 Brian Close

To understand the greatness of Brian Close as a cricketer and a short-leg fielder, it is important to first realise that when he fielded at the position, there were no helmets. He used to be in mortal danger every time he fielded at short-leg and according to many, Close was the very epitome of courage.

Whether it came to facing a bouncer barrage from Michael Holding at his peak without much protection towards the end of his career or fielding at short leg, Brian Close never took a backward step.

His Test career may have lasted only 22 Tests but it spanned around 27 years from 1949 to 1976 and he is still considered to be the best short-leg fielder to have ever played the game. Close did not fear the cricket ball and that enabled him to pull off outstanding catches while he stood at short-leg.

Speaking to Cricinfo, his former team-mate Ray Illingworth summed up his greatness as a fielder, "He was also very brave as a fielder at forward short leg in the days before players were like Michelin men with all their protection. It takes them ten minutes to get ready nowadays but Closey just wore a box, if anything at all."