Top 15 Best Fielders in Cricket History – Jonty Rhodes to Glenn Maxwell

Fielding is an underrated skill in cricket, but it makes a big difference in the outcome of the match. And to be the best side in this sport, you should do well in fielding as well. Catching efficiency, saving important runs, and executing run-outs under pressure can turn things on their head.

There have been many moments when a good fielding effort has created a difference between winning and losing. Everyone talks about the best batters or bowlers, but there are not many discussions on the best fielder. In this article, we have compiled a list of the 15 best fielders that the game has ever seen. It will include the catching, fielding efforts, or run saving as well.

List of 15 Best Fielders in Cricket History

15. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is one of the most demanded cricketers across franchise leagues. It is because of the three-dimensional option he provides. He is a match-winner with the bat and handy with the ball. But his fielding efforts are among the best in modern-day cricket. He is very fast across the outfield and has a strong throwing arm, which has produced some unbelievable run-outs. Maxwell is certainly among the top fielders in the current generation.

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14. Steve Smith (Australia)

Steve Smith entered international cricket as a leg-spinner and turned into the best batter of this generation. But he is among the best slip fielders in the world and has taken some unbelievable catches. Smith is very fast and has the seventh-highest number of catches in international cricket. Smith has safe hands and hardly drops catches. In white-ball cricket, you will find him patrolling the boundaries and saving important runs for his team.

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13. Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis has taken the fielding to another level. With growing age, the reflex becomes slow, but Du Plessis is certainly on another level. He is always in an important position on the field, stopping runs, diving around, and plucking incredible catches. At 41, he is still faster than many cricketers’ half of his age and has 168 catches and 17 run-outs to his name in international cricket.

12. Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli has retired from Tests and T20Is and is active in ODIs. But he is still the best all-format batter that the game has seen in the last decade and a half. Virat’s intensity on the field and passion help him to push boundaries while fielding. He has the most catches among the active players in the world. You will find him fielding in important positions, and he is a great reader of the game, which helps him on the field as well. Virat has 336 catches and 32 run-outs in international cricket.

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11. Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)

Cricket lovers will understand why New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips is ranked before Virat, Maxwell, or Smith. Phillips is also known as “Superman” on the field for the amazing catches he takes and makes them look very easy. Phillips bats, bowls, and keeps wickets, and as a fielder he is someone who might be among the best of the best. He is always in the game, and you will find him taking some mind-blowing catches.

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10. Ravindra Jadeja (India)

Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja offers a complete package to his team. He is one of those rare players who can win matches in all three departments and is equally good in all aspects. As a fielder, he is someone whom you don’t want to take on for a run. He has a bullet arm and covers the ground with lightning speed. Jadeja has 151 catches and 32 run-outs in his career.

9. Andrew Symonds (Australia)

Former all-rounder Andrew Symonds was a big figure with brute strength and power-hitting ability. But for a cricketer of his size, he was a swift mover on the field. Mostly fielding at point, Symonds had a strong throw, which has the ability to hit the stumps more often than not. He finished his career with 107 catches overall.

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8. Paul Collingwood (England)

England’s former captain Paul Collingwood was not a gifted cricketer, but he worked hard throughout his career. At the time of his retirement, he was among the top English cricketers to play cricket. He was the captain when England won the T20 World Cup 2010. Collingwood was a brilliant fielder and master at slips and has taken unbelievable catches on both sides. His reflexes were very fast, and it was one of the safest slip catches of his time. Collingwood retired with 218 catches in 301 international matches.

7. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Former Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum was a wicket-keeper, but after he gave up his gloves, he was still very effective as a fielder. McCullum, with his short stature, was very fast and athletic. McCullum was very fast in patrolling the boundaries and had made many diving saves. He had 462 catches in international matches, which includes catches as a keeper as well.

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6. Suresh Raina (India)

India also had many great fielders in cricket, but if someone can impress Jonty Rhodes, he must be exceptional. Suresh Raina was someone who could field anywhere. He made a massive impact to take India’s fielding to another level. His reflexes and agility made him an excellent fielder. He was not just great in the circle but also near the boundary line; he was someone whom you don’t want to take on. Raina had 167 catches and 23 run-outs in his international career.

5. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)

You can’t keep out the man who holds the record for most catches ever in international cricket. Mahela Jayawardene was unbeatable at slip. Fielding close to the batter on pitches, which used to turn a lot in Sri Lanka, was very difficult. But he made it look very easy, and he was one key reason that Muttiah Muralitharan took so many wickets. He might not be as fast as modern-day cricketers, but if the ball goes near him, he will not let it slip away. Jayawardene took 440 catches in his career, which is a world record.

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4. Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa)

South Africa is among the best fielding sides in the world because of the fielder they had. At one time, they had Jonty Rhodes and Herschelle Gibbs in the same team. That was a nightmare for the opposition. Gibbs was gifted with incredible reflexes and was very fast; he used to field in key positions. His accuracy with his throws was another main aspect of his success as a fielder. Gibbs took 210 catches in his international career overall.

3. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

AB de Villiers was one of the most complete cricketers that the game has seen. He was incredible with the bat, hitting the boundaries in all parts. But he was also an excellent fielder across the ground. He achieved many records as a batter, but he was equally impactful as a fielder, saving runs, taking spectacular catches, and executing impossible run-outs, making him one of the best in the business. De Villiers had 248 catches and 21 run-outs as a fielder.

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2. Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Ricky Ponting was one of those who promoted the culture of fielding in an international career in the early 2000s. He was a fierce batter and a successful leader, but on the field, he was in his team. Ponting had a smart brain on his shoulder, and his attitude to restrict the opposition batter helped him become a great fielder. At slips, in the circle and near the boundary line, he was a gazelle. Ponting had 364 international catches to his name, which is the second-highest as a fielder.

1. Jonty Rhodes (South Africa)

Just search on Google for “best fielder in cricket,” and you will find Jonty Rhodes at the top. He was more than a fielder and someone who actually won Man of the Match for his fielding efforts. He took the fielding ability to another level and showed the world, and this is equally important to winning games. Jonty was an absolute beast on the field. His execution for runouts and perfection for catching make him the best fielder ever. He finished 139 catches and has written his name as the one to look up to as a fielder.