Top 10 Best Fielding Team in Cricket (Updated 2025)

Cricket has evolved into a three-dimensional game, with batting, bowling, and fielding all playing important roles in the modern style of the game. Fielding does not get the credit it deserves. It is considered to be an integral part of the game. In cricket, “Catches Win Matches” is a very common phrase. Over the years, the fielding standards have increased, and it has changed the game's dynamics.

Nowadays, many of the cricketers are recognised for their fielding efforts while taking breathtaking catches or saving runs for the team. The athleticism they showcase in the team provides an extra boost for the team. The best international teams have some of the best fielders in their teams, which makes the side rank as the best fielding team in cricket. In this article, we dive into the top 10 best fielding team in cricket.

List of Best Fielding Team in Cricket

Several great fielders have graced the game over the years for their teams. The fielders now have amazing athleticism and fitness to save runs or take a mind-boggling catch for their team. Except for their batting and bowling, these teams are best known for their fielding efforts as well. From South Africa to New Zealand, we have listed below some of the top 10 best fielding team in cricket.

Which is the Best Fielding Team in Cricket Right Now?

Determining the absolute best fielding team in cricket is a very tough task. For the best fielding team in cricket currently, New Zealand has taken the top spot for their amazing fielding displays across formats and in the major events as well. They are the team with best fielders in cricket at the moment, which makes them one of the most threatening sides on the field. They showcase unreal athleticism and amazing fielding efforts to save runs and take catches for the side. Let's find out who the other best fielding team in the world is.

10. Pakistan

Pakistan has been one of the finest cricketing nations in the game's history. The side has produced some of the finest cricketers over the years. From the great fast bowlers like Imran Khan to Shoaib Akhtar, it has also given some brilliant batters like Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar. Not known for their best of the fieldings, however, they have had some brilliant fielders. From Inzamam to Younis Khan, they are one of the team with best fielders in cricket.

In recent times, the Men in Green have struggled to get back their best form across formats and have been heavily criticised by their former cricketers and other cricket journalists as well. They have also led some poor fielding efforts in the game, leading them to a downfall as a fielding side. Yonuis Khan's efforts in the field still rank them as one of the best fielding team in cricket.

9. Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country that has seen massive ups and downs during recent years. In some years, they performed beautifully, and in some years, they failed like they did not know how to be on the biggest stage of the game. The Bangla Tigers have had the potential of becoming one of the best sides in cricket, but they could not fulfill it. They remain as one of the best fielding team in cricket, with the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Mahmudullah is often cited as one of Bangladesh's best fielders, particularly in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He has the record for taking the most catches in ODIs for Bangladesh cricket. In the last few months, the Bangladesh team has performed decently as they won the T20I series against Sri Lanka and performed exceptionally well. A chaos in their country has led their cricket to a downfall.

8. Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been one of the most developed teams in world cricket at the moment. Their story from being a struggling associate nation to being a top 10 cricketing nation has been inspiring. From batting to fielding, this side has improved every aspect of their game. Afghanistan is one of the team with best fielders in cricket. From the likes of Rashid Khan to Mohammad Nabi, they have been the backbone of the side in fielding terms.

Rashid Khan, since featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL) helped Afghans to grow. He led the side from his amazing fielding efforts, and the team's best fielding efforts were seen in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he took some brilliant catches that changed the match in their favour. They are still the side with a lot to improve to win matches in bigger stages.

7. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has been a side that saw massive success during the 1990s to 2015s. From the likes of Arvinda de Silva to Mahela Jayawardene, they displayed their talents across formats for the Lankan Lions. Among them, there have been some amazing fielders on the side who showcased sensational fitness and had the safest hands. Mahela Jayawardene, Arvinda de Silva, and Tilakaratne Dilshan's fielding efforts helped the side to win matches.

This is the reason they remain one of the team with best fielders in cricket. Now, Sri Lanka cricket after 2015 has seen a downfall, and they have not played the quality cricket they used to. They do not even have the best fielders currently, who change the course of the match by taking some catches. Sri Lanka would like to be at their best in the upcoming major tournaments of the ICC and showcase their talent once again to world cricket, when they used to be a fearful side.

6. West Indies

West Indies were once one of the fearsome sides in world cricket. They dominated two decades of the game from the 1970s to the early 1990s. From the likes of Michael Holding to Brian Lara, these cricketers have showcased their talent at the top level of the game. The West Indies have been known as a side for their acrobatic fielding efforts. They have had the best fielders in world cricket.

The Windies did not struggle to put in an effort on the field despite their big body structure. From the likes of Kieron Pollard to Nicholas Pooran, the side has seen these fielders take some mind-boggling catches in the limited-overs format of the game. The side showcases amazing athleticism and fitness on the field, and this is the reason they remain one of the cricket teams known for fielding.

5. England

England is the inventor of the game of cricket and has been one of the finest cricketing nations across formats. They are the side that has changed the dynamics of playing the game. England has produced some of the greatest cricketers over the years, who have also turned out to be their best fielders in the world. The Three Lions have had the likes of Paul Collingwood to Ben Stokes, who have changed the dynamics of fielding.

These cricketers showed unreal athleticism and fitness in the field and took some amazing catches and saved runs for their team. England remains one of the hubs of one of the best catchers in Test cricket, who is Joe Root, as the England batter has the safest pair of hands in the slip cordon and has taken the most catches in Test cricket. This is why they are the team with best fielders in cricket.

4. India

India has been a hub of producing some of the best talent in cricket in recent years. The Men in Blue recently showcased some brilliant cricket in England, finishing the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy 2-2. It has produced some of the greatest fielders from the great Kapil Dev to now Ravindra Jadeja, all have showcased brilliant fielding abilities across formats for the side.

The likes of Mohammed Kaif and Yuvraj Singh showcased their talent in the team and led the side from the front in terms of their fielding efforts. Then came the likes of Suresh Raina, and now Ravindra Jadeja has the quickest hands as an outfielder with his amazing throwing ability and remains India's best fielder in the current generation. This is why India has been ranked as the 4th best fielding team in the world.

3. Australia

Australia remains the most dominant and powerful cricketing nation in world cricket. Their undying attitude on the field in any situation of the game makes them one of the strongest opponents to play against. Over the years, the kind of cricketers they have produced have etched their names in the history of the game. Australia has had some of the best fielders in world cricket, from the great Ricky Ponting to Steve Smith.

These greats have changed the way of fielding methods, some of them have been athletic and have had fast hands, and some of them were too good at the slip cordon. Ricky Ponting's athletic fielding efforts changed the course of the match, and even now, when Marnus Labuschagne, who was not getting runs with the bat, was excellent out in the field and helped his side save some runs, and took brilliant catches. This is why Australia is considered the team with best fielders in cricket.

2. New Zealand

New Zealand has been one of the most consistent teams in world cricket in recent years. They have played in some of the major finals across formats in the last few years and have won one of them as well. The Kiwis are one of the teams that fight for every run nowadays, as they have athletic fielders and some brilliant catchers on the side. Brendon McCullum changed the side's fielding motto as many were inspired by his athletic fielding efforts.

Nowadays, Glenn Phillips, who has been regarded as the best fielder currently, shows unbelievable fielding efforts for the team. He inspires a lot of the young generation with his excellent fielding and catching abilities. Apart from him, Kane Williamson is another cricketer who gives his all in the field for the team. This is the reason New Zealand is one of the cricket teams known for its fielding.

1. South Africa

South Africa has had recent success in their ICC tournaments, won the WTC final, and also qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup final. The Proteas are best known for their fielders and the quality of cricketers they have produced over the years. From the likes of Graeme Smith to Kagiso Rabada, they showcased their utmost talents on the field. South Africans changed the dynamics of fielding.

The Rainbow Nation first demonstrated to the world that fielding is also an important part of the game, through the ranks of Jonty Rhodes and Herschelle Gibbs, in modern times AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, these fielders for South Africa have totally changed the fielding aspects and mindsets of the cricketers. Their brilliance on the field has led the Proteas to win some matches, from flying in the air for catches to sensational runouts. South Africa remains the team with best fielders in cricket and also the best fielding team in the world of all time.

How We Ranked The Best Fielding Team in Cricket?

We have ranked all the cricket teams on the following ranking factors, which are mentioned below, and based on them, we have listed the best fielding team in cricket in the world. These factors determine which is the best cricket teams known for fielding.

• Catch Efficiency: Catching efficiency is a critical factor in fielding rankings. It measures the ratio of catches taken to catches offered, both in the infield and outfield. From simple catches to unbelievable catches, this factor will help the teams to rank equally.
• Fielding Efforts: Fielding is not just about taking catches; it’s about saving runs. The ground fielding and run-saving ability of a team reflects how effectively players stop singles, cut off boundaries, and apply pressure through quick reflexes, accurate throws, and sharp anticipation.
• Performance under pressure: When assessing the top cricket fielding teams, performance under pressure is a vital factor. It's not only about basic ability; it's also about poise, consistency, and performance in high-pressure circumstances such as ICC tournaments and knockout games.