Top 5 fielders with most catches in test cricket

Only five fielders have taken more than 200 catches in test cricket.

Batting and bowling are two major aspects of the game of cricket. But catching is as important as the other two. How many times has the game seen that good outfield catches have changed the situation of the game?

That is why having a good catcher on the field puts pressure on the opposing batters. Especially in test cricket, when the batters look to play risk-free cricket, every catching opportunity becomes more vital.

Just like other big records, the record for most catches in tests features some of the greats of the game. In this article, we will talk about the top five fielders (non-wicket-keepers) with the most catches in test cricket.

List of top five fielders with most catches in test cricket

5. Steve Smith (Australia) – 200 Catches

Modern-day great Steve Smith has been a true match-winner for Australia in test cricket. The former captain of the side has been a run machine in this format. He is very effective not only with the bat, but also on the field or at slips. Smith has so far taken 200 catches in 117 tests, with a best of five catches in an innings.

4. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 200 Catches

Jacques Kallis is probably among the best all-rounders that the game has ever witnessed. He was a true match-winner with bat and ball. He also played a major role for South Africa as a fielder in test cricket.

Fielding at slips, mainly on bouncy pitches in South Africa, was not easy. But he made fielding look very easy with his skills. Kallis retired with 200 catches in 166 tests, to go with 13,289 runs and 292 wickets.

3. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 205 Catches

Slip catching in the subcontinent is never an easy job. Especially when the bowler is Muthiah Muralitharan. But Mahela Jayawardene was pretty clinical with his work. He was a bankable performer with the bat and took some amazing catches on the field as well. He played 149 tests and finished with 205 catches.

2. Rahul Dravid (India) – 210 Catches

Former Indian Cricket Team captain Rahul Dravid was one of the finest players to play test cricket. His solidity, determination, and adaptability at the crease earned him the nickname of “The Wall.” But he was very classical with his batting style and solid with catching. His catching was one of the key reasons that India dominated on slip-friendly pitches at home. Dravid took 210 catches in 164 test matches.

1. Joe Root (England) – 211* Catches

Joe Root is considered one of the best test batters of his generation. His growth as a batter has been immense, and not only his batting achievements, but also his role as a slip fielder has impacted the game.

Root currently has the joint-most catches in test cricket by a fielder. He has taken 211 catches in 156 matches. He still has a few more years of cricket left in him, and this tally will increase more until he retires from this format.

(All stats updated till 24th June, 2025)

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