Ranking three best slip fielders of all time

Real cricket fans will still enjoy a 5-Day long game of Test Cricket over watching action-packed T20s getting over in hours. Test cricket has its charm, the tension between innings, the Days’ long drama and the silly tactics to get your opponent off their game; if there is an epitome of cricket, it is an intense Test.

As such, fielding positions hold specific importance in Test Cricket. On the other hand, the catching positions like silly points, slips, short leg etc., come into the game as caught mode of dismissals is the most common in the red-ball game. As such, who do you think are the best slip fielders of all time? Here’s our list of three.

3. Ian Botham

Nicknamed ‘Beefy’, Ian Botham has been one of the greatest all-rounders cricket has ever seen. A firm batter and an accomplished bowler Botham was only the second player to have scored 100 runs and taken ten wickets in the match. However, his spectacular abilities with the cherry and the willow did not mean his fielding abilities would be overlooked.

Botham was rightly one of the best fielders in the game, especially making his mark at the slips with exceptionally sharp reflexes and a sure grip. He completed 120 catches at an average of 1.18 per match. An exceptional record, indeed. 

2. Mark Waugh

On number two, we have one of Australia’s batting greats, Mark Waugh. Waugh played for the Kangaroos between 1988 and 2002 and quickly made his mark as a sophisticated stroke player making batting look ridiculously easy. During Australia’s run to finals in the 1996 World Cup, Waugh became the first player with three centuries in one edition of the World Cup.

Despite his wondrous achievements with the willow, overlooking his fielding abilities would be a big mistake. His 181 catches in Test matches was a world record until the player sitting atop this list broke it in 2009 in just 128 games. Moreover, he was a natural in the slips with a rapid reaction time.

1. Rahul Dravid

On number one, we have ‘The Wall’. Rahul Dravid is known for his stubborn defence and ball-playing abilities. Hence, his nicknames, ‘The Wall’ and ‘Mr Dependable’, are reminiscent of his exceptional performances as India’s captain. However, besides his exploits with the bat, Dravid will always be remembered for his outstanding slip-fielding abilities.

He had domestic spells with Karnataka, the Bengaluru and Rajasthan franchises of the Indian T20 League. Dravid won the Cricketer of the year award in 2004 for his astonishing 1993 runs from 31 matches in the 2003/04 season. However, he admitted that he was not a gifted bowler and, therefore, did his best to become the most excellent catcher in the game. He averaged 1.28 catches per match in his 164 Tests for 210 nets, a world record in red-ball cricket.