Steve Smith. (Photo Source: cricket.com.au/Twitter)
When it comes to fielding, the slip cordon is one of the most difficult positions. The art of slip-catching after the ball kisses the edge of the bat is not everyone’s cup of tea. Only a few fielders around the globe could fill in that position and pull off some incredible grabs. To become an expert in the slip cordon, one requires to have a remarkable level of reflexes and a sharp mind to receive stunners standing close to a batter.
In the past, Rahul Dravid, Mark Waugh, Allan Donald, Ian Chappell, Mahela Jayawardene, and Graeme Smith have shown how to be accomplished world-class operators of the cordon with their superb fielding techniques and excellent level of temperament. Talking about the current scenario, some players who are known for their batting talent have also proven themselves as slippers with their fielding skills.
Discussing more, here are five top-notch current slip fielders
5. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane (Photo Source: Twitter)
The India batter Ajinkya Rahane is a magnificent fielder in the slip cordon. Standing as a slip fielder, Rahane plays the role of a wall that isn’t easy to breach for batters to gather runs in the area. The veteran helped bowlers dismiss batters like Moeen Ali, Peter Handscomb, and Marcus Harris with his perfect fielding in the crucial fielding position.
Back in 2021, playing the second Test against England at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, Rahane displayed his exemplary class as a slip fielder. Before the tea break on Day 2, Rahane took a diving catch on Axar Patel’s delivery to send Moeen Ali back to the pavilion. It also became the 89th catch of his international Test career.
So far, Rahane has taken 163 catches in 192 international appearances. Talking about his fielding record in Tests only, the 34-year-old has chipped in with 99 dismissals for India in 157 innings of 82 matches. In 2015, he became the first fielder to achieve the feat of taking eight blinders in a Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle.
4. Joe Root
Joe Root (Photo Source: Twitter)
Joe Root has achieved several feats with his bat in his 11 years of international Test career. Currently, he is seen as a batter to shatter his compatriot Alastair Cook’s batting records and become the Englishman to score the most Test runs. Noting his colossal batting records in the longest form of the sport, fans appreciate him a lot as a batter.
However, the fact that should not be forgotten is that the dashing English player is a fine fielder for his team as well. With his marvelous fielding in the slip area, he has stunned opponents a lot of times. In 2019, he completed his 100th catch in Tests in style, removing Australia’s James Pattinson off Jofra Archer’s bowling in the third Test of The Ashes at Headingly.
Currently, he is the second most successful fielder in Test cricket for England picking 171 blinders in 244 innings of 129 games. In the upcoming England matches, he is expected to leave former England batter Alastair Cook, who is holding this record with 175 stunners in 300 innings of 161 Tests.
3. David Warner
David Warner (Photo Source: Twitter)
In the history of cricket, it has been witnessed that Australia have produced a lot of talented fielders. Aussie players such as Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, and Mark Taylor showcased their fielding prowess becoming perfect slippers. Currently, David Warner is one of the best fielders in international cricket and he has proven it several times with his athleticism.
Deployed in the slip cordon, the Aussie has grabbed some outstanding stunners for his team. When Sri Lanka faced Australia in a Test at Galle in 2022, Warner sealed an absolute ripper with his stunning fielding effort and drew attention towards himself. On Nathan Lyon’s delivery, the 36-year-old dived forward and completed the catch with his left hand.
Currently, he is in the 11th position on the list of the most successful fielders for Australia. Till now, he has taken 197 screamers in 438 innings of 343 matches. In the next few games for Australia, he could leave his former teammates Shane Watson and Mike Hussey behind and feature on the list of top 10 fielders.
2. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Photo Source: Twitter)
The legendary India player Virat Kohli is a prolific catcher at the slips. Like his former teammate Rahul Dravid, Kohli is also one of the best fielders for India to guard the slip region. With his soft hands and brilliant hand-eye coordination, he has taken some unbelievable screamers for the team.
In December 2018, the veteran brought joy to the faces of his team’s fans with a breathtaking stunner against Australia in the second Test in Perth. Standing at the second slip, Kohli exhibited an acrobatic effort and took the flying catch to get rid of Peter Handscomb on Ishant Sharma’s delivery.
The 34-year-old is standing in the second position among the India players taking the highest number of catches in the Test format. With 299 grabs in 588 innings of 493 games, he is only behind Rahul Dravid, who has pulled off 333 rippers in 565 innings of 504 international contests.
1. Steve Smith
Steve Smith (Photo Source: Twitter)
When it comes to slip fielding, no one could doubt Steve Smith’s prowess. The Aussie stalwart has made impossible slip catches look ridiculously easy in his career. With his accuracy and attentiveness on the field, it is hard for batters to go past him and collect runs.
Talking about one of his famous catches at the slip area, it came in 2019 when Australia was facing New Zealand in Perth. Deployed at the second slip, Smith took a remarkable one-handed catch of New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson on Mitchell Starc’s delivery. Mesmerized by Smith’s sensational effort, Starc also called it a special grab.
The New South Wales-born player has grabbed 154 catches for his national team in 181 innings of 95 international appearances. With these fielding figures, he is placed in the fifth position on the list of Aussie cricketers with the most catches across formats.