Top 5 players with the highest catches-per-match ratio in Test cricket

Cricket is a team game, and all the players in the squad have a role to play in the side, even if they don’t make it to the playing eleven. The different skill-sets of the various individual players combine together to form a team, and the same logic goes for the fielding unit.

The different kinds of fielders in a team gel together to form a potent fielding attack for their bowlers. If you have a brilliant bunch of players in the field then even the half chances can be converted into wickets - and that is what can change the momentum of the game.

In Test matches, with spinners bowling on turning tracks, the role of slips, short-leg and silly-point fielders is gigantic for the fate of the team.

On that note, here is the list of the top 5 players with the highest catch per match ratio in Test cricket.

Note: Only players who have taken minimum 100 catches in their Test careers have been considered.

#5 Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene

Matches – 149; Catches – 205; Ratio – 1.38

Mahela Jayawardene is at the second position in the list of players who have taken most catches in their Test career, after Rahul Dravid.

Jayawardene is widely regarded as one of the greats of modern cricket due to his masterful technique and class. He and long-time teammate and friend Kumar Sangakkara formed a potent middle-order for Sri Lanka.

Jayawardene was also known as one of the safest catchers in world cricket. He took 77 catches off the bowling of Muttiah Muralitharan, making that the most prolific fielder-bowler combination in the history of Test cricket.

Jayawardene scored 2921 Test runs at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, the most by any player on any ground. With 2382 runs at Galle, he also takes the second place in the list of most runs scored at a single venue. He is also the only player to score more than 2000 Test runs on two different grounds.

#4 Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh was a very safe fielder

Matches – 128; Catches – 181; Ratio – 1.41

Mark Waugh is an Australian cricketer widely regarded as one of the most elegant and gifted stroke-makers to ever play the game of cricket. He scored 8029 runs in 128 Test matches for Australia. In addition to that he also took 59 wickets in his career, and with his extraordinary consistency in catching to boot, he was truly a complete player.

Waugh primarily fielded in the second slip position while the fast bowlers were operating. He would field at silly point whilst a spin bowler was operating, and then at first slip for a spinner following the retirement of Mark Taylor.

#3 Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith was a champion cricketer

Matches – 117; Catches – 169; Ratio – 1.44

Graeme Smith is South Africa’s most successful captain, and a great batsman too. Smith ended his career with 9265 runs in 117 matches for South Africa, also scoring 27 centuries.

He was also one of the greatest slip catchers during his time, which is why he features in this list.

#2 Ross Taylor

Rosco is one of the most trusted slip catchers around

Matches – 67; Catches – 109; Ratio – 1.51

Ross Taylor is easily one of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers in the 21st century. He currently forms the backbone of New Zealand’s batting along with Kane Williamson. Taylor has scored 5174 runs in his Test career and is still going strong.

Taylor has a unique record under his belt, of taking 100 catches in fewer Test matches than any other player. He is currently at the second position in that list.

Taylor has taken 100 catches in 60 matches, while the player who is at first, Bob Simpson, had taken 100 catches in 54 matches.

#1 Stephen Fleming

Fleming proved that catches win matches

Matches – 111; Catches – 171; Ratio – 1.54

Stephen Fleming is a former New Zealand captain, who is well-known for his superb tactical abilities and patient batting. Fleming has the highest catch per match ratio among all cricketers in Test cricket.