Top 10 Cricketers With Most Catches in Test Cricket 2025

Fielding is very important in modern-day cricket. It is a key aspect of the game alongside batting and bowling, and is given equal importance. In cricket, “Catches Win Matches” is a very common phrase. Over the years, fielding has changed the dynamics of the game. In the history of Test cricket, several cricketers have distinguished themselves not only with the bat or ball but also with their incredible reflexes and unwavering concentration in the field.

These fielders have not only supported their bowlers with consistency but also contributed significantly to their teams’ success over the years. While batting and bowling are considered to be the primary objectives in the game, fielding plays an equally important role. A good fielding or catching team always makes a huge difference for any team.

Ranking Factor

The primary ranking factor for the "Top 10 Cricketers with Most Catches in Test Cricket" is the total number of catches taken by a fielder throughout their Test career. This is the only factor we will take into consideration while writing this article.

• Most Catches Taken: This factor showcases not just the quantity but the consistency and sharpness of a player’s fielding ability over time. Players who have played longer careers and consistently fielded in catching positions like slips, gully, or short leg generally have more opportunities.

List of the Top 10 Cricketers with Most Catches in Test Cricket

Who Has Taken Most Catches in Test Cricket?

For the most catches in Test cricket, players like Rahul Dravid, Mark Waugh, and Mahela Jayawardene, who once dominated this list, set high standards for generations to follow. This updated list highlights the top 10 cricketers who have taken the most catches in Test cricket as of 2025. Rahul Dravid tops the chart for taking the most catches in Test cricket. He has been one of the finest fielders for India in the slip cordon and has rarely dropped catches in the longest format of the game. Now we dive into the top 10 cricketers with the most catches in Test cricket.

10. Graeme Smith | South Africa | 169 Catches

Graeme Smith is one of South Africa’s finest cricketers. He was known for his amazing leadership and resilience at the top of the order. He was the youngest-ever South African captain at the age of 22 and one of the youngest in international cricket history. Graeme Smith played 117 Test matches, scoring over 9,000 runs and notching up 27 centuries. During his stint as a captain achieved exceptional success, including historic Test series wins in England and Australia.

He is the only cricketer to lead a nation in 100+ games. The Southpaw is one of the most successful Test captains in history, he has led the Rainbow Nation in 109 Tests, winning 53 of them. Apart from that, Smith was also a great fielder across formats. He took 169 catches, placing him among the top 10 cricketers with the most catches in Test cricket. He is one of the successful cricketers in the history of the game.

9. Stephen Fleming | New Zealand | 171 catches

Stephen Fleming is a legend in New Zealand cricket. He has been known for his calm leadership, tactical brilliance, and elegant left-handed batting. The stylish left-hander is the first Kiwi batter to pass 7000 Test runs. He is also the team’s longest-serving and most successful captain. Fleming led the side to victory in 28 test matches and won the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy. It was also their first ICC trophy.

He was also a superb slip fielder. In Test cricket, he took 171 catches in 199 innings. This is the reason he has been an exceptional fielder. Not only this, Southpaw also ranks in the top 10 catches in ODI cricket as well. He has taken 133 catches in his career and was known as a prolific slip catcher. Fleming is currently the head coach of the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

8. Alastair Cook | England | 175 Catches

Alastair Cook is considered one of England's greatest Test cricketers. He was admired for his beautiful technique, mental fortitude, and great endurance at the highest level of the game. He was England's top run scorer until Joe Root broke the record by reaching 12,000 runs in Test cricket. Cook, on the other hand, was strong on the leg side and behind the wicket. His ability to spend long hours at the crease made him a crucial opener in every situation.

He captained the English Test team from 2012 to 2017 and achieved series victories in India and at home against top teams such as Australia and South Africa. He made 175 catches, ranking him amongst the top 10 in fielding catches in Test cricket history. Cook was awarded a 'knighthood' as recognition for his services to cricket, becoming Sir Alastair Cook, and a well-deserved honour for one of the greats of cricket.

7. Mark Waugh | Australia | 181 Catches

Mark Waugh is one of Australia’s most stylish and elegant batters. He has been known as one of the finest slip fielders of international cricket. He was known for his elegant stroke play, quick wrists, and sharp cricketing brain. Mark Waugh made a name for himself as both a dependable batsman and an outstanding fielder. The former opener featured in 128 Test matches and scored over 8,000 runs at an average of 41.81, with 20 centuries and 47 fifties.

Mark Waugh was a crucial member of the 1999 ICC ODI World Cup win for the Kangaroos. In ODIs, he was equally prolific, scoring over 8,500 runs in 244 matches, including 18 hundreds. He, alongside Adam Gilchrist, had laid the foundation for many victories for the Aussies. In the longest format of the game, he had one of the safest hands, taking 181 catches in test cricket. This is the reason he has been ranked among the top 10 cricketers with the most catches in Tests.

6. Ricky Ponting | Australia | 196 Catches

Ricky Ponting was one of the best cricket players in the world. He was a fantastic batter of his era. The former Australian skipper is the only captain to win the ICC ODI World Cup twice in his career. He transformed the Australian side into a beast in Test cricket, and they notched up 16 consecutive Test victories at one point.

But he was also known as one of the best fielders the game has ever seen. The former Aussie skipper had quick reflexes, and his safe hands and aggressive fielding made him the most valuable asset to the team. He was also known as an exceptional slip fielder in Test match cricket. In Test cricket, the former Aussie skipper has taken 196 catches in the longest format of the game.

5. Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 200 Catches

Jacques Kallis is the greatest South African player ever. He was underrated and did not get the fame he should have gotten. He is the only Proteas cricketer in the history of the game to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 250 wickets in both ODI and Test match cricket. He remains one of the stalwarts of cricket and has the most man of the matches to his name in the longest format of the game. He played 328 ODI matches career has been the backbone of the side till 2014.

Kallis holds the record for most Test centuries by a South African and is known for his classic, sensational technique and exceptional bowling, which makes him one of the best cricketers in the world. He also helped South Africa win their only ICC Trophy, which was then the ICC Knockout Cup, back in 1998. Kallis was also an exceptional fielder. He is the only South African cricketer to have taken 200 catches in test cricket. This is the reason he ranks among the top 5 cricketers with the most catches in Test matches.

4. Steve Smith | Australia | 200* Catches

Steve Smith's name often surprises people because of his unorthodox batting style. He is part of the modern-day ‘FAB 4’, which consists of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. The former Australian captain recently announced his retirement from ODI cricket after the semi-final exit of the ICC Champions Trophy against India. However, he will continue to play Test cricket and focus on the traditional format of the game.

The former Aussie skipper is one of the world's best slip catchers, especially when confronting fast bowlers with moving edges who require swift reflexes. Smith has exceptional reaction, speed, and soft hands, which make it possible for him to pull in unbelievable catches regularly that many would have deemed out of reach to anyone else. He has taken 200 catches in Test cricket and is the only Australian to be inside the top 5 list of cricketers with the most catches in Test cricket.

3. Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 205 Catches

Mahela Jayawardene combined technical brilliance with mental resilience to become a pillar of Sri Lankan batting across formats. He made his Test debut in 1997 and quickly established himself with his calm demeanor and amazing strokeplay. He featured in 149 Test matches, amassing 11,814 runs at an average of 49.84, including 34 centuries and 50 fifties. He led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2007 World Cup but lost to a better Australian side. Similarly, he scored a hundred in the following 2011 World Cup final, but they lost once again.

Apart from scoring runs, Mahela was aalso n excellent fielder. He is the player with the third most catches in Test matches, He has taken 205 catches in just 149 matches, showcasing his excellent fielding skills and consistency in the traditional format of the game. Additionally, he has a catch-per-innings ratio of 0.759. This ranks him among the greatest fielders of all time as well.

2. Joe Root | England | 207 Catches

Joe Root is currently the best Test batsman in world cricket. Over the past decade, Root's consistency, technique, and hunger for runs have set him apart from other batters in modern-day cricket. Root’s batting is defined by classical technique blended with modern aggression. Root’s elegance and precision make his cover drive a defining feature of his game. He is the highest run-scorer in the longest format of the game by an active cricketer.

The former English skipper is the highest run-scorer for England. He recently scored 13,000 runs in the longest format of the game. Root's legacy is that of a complete cricketer, an elegant batsman, dependable fielder, and remains also ranks among the Fab 4 of modern-day cricket alongside Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson. Root is the only active cricketer to be ranked in the top 3 for most catches in Test matches. He has taken 207 catches in Test cricket.

1. Rahul Dravid | India | 210 Catches

Rahul Dravid is widely regarded not only as "The Wall" of Indian cricket but also as a leader whose calm demeanor and strategic intelligence revolutionized Indian Test cricket. He played 164 tests and scored 13,288 runs, the second most by any Indian batter. He was the pillar for the Indian batting team for more than a decade and has been one of the finest captains for the side as well. He led the side to a Test series victory in England in 21 years in 2007.

Apart from being a fantastic batter, he was also an exceptional fielder. He holds the record for the most number of catches in Test cricket, with 210 catches in 164 matches. The former India captain has an average of nearly 0.697 catches per inning speaks volumes about his consistency and skill. These catches came in the slip cordon, and he has rarely dropped a catch in the cordon in the longest format of the game. This is the reason he ranks as the top cricketer with the highest catches in Tests.

Which Cricketer Has Taken Highest Catches in Test Cricket Currently?

Joe Root has taken the Highest Catches in Test Cricket currently. He leads the list with 207 catches in the longest format of the game. Recently, the former English captain scored 13,000 runs and is the highest run-getter for the Three Lions in the traditional format of the game. He is likely to surpass the record of Rahul Dravid for taking the most catches in Test history. Root is just three catches away from getting tied with the former Indian captain.