Most people would say that Cricket is a sport between the bat and the ball. But oftentimes another dynamic of the sport is forgotten. Yes, we are talking about the fielders. These ten men/women play a key role in stopping the run flow, Hence helping their team win.
Not just stopping the runs, but the fielder plays a key part in taking wickets as well. These athletes pull off some of the most amazing catches/run-outs that make every cricket fan gasp!
In this article, we will look at some of the best fielders in the world who have certainly made their name in international and domestic cricket. So without any further ado, let’s get into the list.
Here is the list of the best fielder in the world
12. Kieron Pollard
The West Indian is the first player on our list. It is an understatement to say that Kieron Pollard has bucket hands. One of his greatest gifts is that he is tall and athletic. Owing to this, the West Indian is generally positioned near the boundary ropes.
To add to this his batting and bowling abilities, it is understandable why Kieron Pollard has been such a superstar in the world of cricket.
| Name | Kieron Pollard |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 0/ 123/ 101 |
| Career | 2007-present |
| Country | West Indies |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 0/ 64/ 42 |
11. Dwayne Bravo
Another West Indian entry in this list is the “Champion” himself. Dwayne Bravo is another live wire who has made the most of his athletic abilities. Usually, fielding in the deep, Dwayne Bravo has taken some of the most astonishing catches in cricket history.
Bravo has been exceptional for both his international and franchise teams. Hence, the allrounder would certainly be remembered for his fielding abilities as well in the years to come.
| Name | Dwayne Bravo |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 40/ 164/ 91 |
| Career | 2004-2021 |
| Country | West Indies |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 41/ 73/ 44 |
10. Yuvraj Singh
Most people would remember Yuvraj Singh for his six sixes in the T20 World Cup 2007 or his Man of the Tournament performances in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
But it should not be forgotten how effective of a fielder the destructive batsman was. Usually seen fielding at the “point” position, Yuvraj Singh brought forward new standards for fielding in the Indian team along with Mohammed Kaif. Hence, the left-hander is a must-have on our list!
| Name | Yuvraj Singh |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 40/ 304/ 58 |
| Career | 2000-2017 |
| Country | India |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 31/ 94/ 12 |
9. Paul Collingwood
The England international was certainly one of the best fielders from his nation during his time. The former captain of the three lions was known for his athletic ability and energy.
One of Collingwood’s best abilities was to take one-handed catches. Usually seen fielding in the infield, the player added an extra dynamic to England helping them become a better fielding unit.
| Name | Paul Collingwood |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 68/ 197/ – |
| Career | 2001-2011 |
| Country | England |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 96/ 108/ – |
8. Herschelle Gibbs
Another player who is better remembered for his six sixes is Herschelle Gibbs. The South African was an infield specialist who usually used to position himself in the “point” position or the slip cordon.
Gibbs was valuable in saving runs for his team and is remembered for “that Jonty Rhodes-isq” run out against Sri Lanka. The South African would certainly go down as one of the best players of all time.
| Name | Herschelle Gibbs |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 90/ 248/ 23 |
| Career | 1996-2010 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 94/ 108/ 8 |
7. Mohammed Kaif
Probably the beacon of India’s fielding unit, Mohammed Kaif has certainly secured his place among the best fielders in the world. As per reports, India #11 used to even give fielding training to his fellow teammates of the Indian team.
Kaif has taken some of the most exceptional catches with the Indian team. To add to this, the infielder has saved a lot of runs through his special efforts for the team. Hence, Kaif certainly earns his place on our list.
| Name | Mohammed Kaif |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 13/ 125/ – |
| Career | 2000-2006 |
| Country | India |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 14/ 55/ – |
6. Andrew Symonds
The Australian set a standard on the field along with his batting and bowling abilities. But Symonds also turned the match many times owing to his fielding efforts.
He was part of the Australian side during one of their most dominant times. Hence his fielding abilities certainly added to the shine of the fierce Australian side of the 2000s.
| Name | Andrew Symonds |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 26/ 198/ – |
| Career | 1998-2009 |
| Country | Australia |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 22/ 82/ – |
5. Faf Du Plessis
Another South African on this list is the brilliant Faf Du Plessis. Faf has made game-changing catches and run-outs for both his clubs and countries multiple times.
Into his late 30s, the South African is still in his A-game. This shows his consistency and the overall brilliance that he brought to the game on the field along with his batting.
| Name | Faf Du Plessis |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 69/ 143/ 50 |
| Career | 2011-2021 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 63/ 81/ 24 |
4. Suresh Raina
The Indian fielder came into the game in the late 2000s. Since then, Raina has shown that he is critical to the fielding setup of the Indian team. Along with the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Ravindra Jadeja,
Suresh Raina has shown his brilliance for years, the versatile fielder could field anywhere and this added more value to his talent. To add to this, the left-hander was one of the best batsmen during his time.
| Name | Suresh Raina |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 18/ 226/ 78 |
| Career | 2005-2018 |
| Country | India |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 20/ 102/ 42 |
3. Ab de Villiers
Mr. 360 is exceptional, we all know that. And the South African clearly showed that on the field. Ab de Villiers could play anywhere and field anywhere. This theory was proven when he was seen playing the role of a wicketkeeper.
The South African pulled off some exceptional catches on the boundary for both Royal Challengers Bangalore and South Africa, hence adding to his value.
| Name | Ab de Villiers |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 114/ 228/ 78 |
| Career | 2004-2018 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 222/ 176/ 65 |
2. Ravindra Jadeja
One of the best modern-day fielders, if not the best, Sir Ravindra Jadeja was one of the first names on our list. It is a rare occurrence to see the Indian fielder drop a catch for his club and country.
The Electric fielder is one of the fastest men and to add to this, Jadeja has a calm head. His fielding stats have certainly boosted his price tag along with his all-round abilities. And this could easily be seen when Chennai Super Kings retained him as their number one pick ahead of the 2022 IPL auctions.
| Name | Ravindra Jadeja |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 56/ 168/ 50 |
| Career | 2009-present |
| Country | India |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 39/ 60/ 21 |
1. Jonty Rhodes
The first “fielder” in cricket was probably the great South African. Jonty Rhodes was picked by his national side owing to his fielding prowess. After retiring, he has stuck with this and has become a fielding coach for many teams.
Jonty Rhodes’s run out in the 1999 World Cup has become a fixture in the eyes of many spectators. And the image still lives in the head of many people.
| Name | Jonty Rhodes |
| Matches (Test/ODI/T20) | 52/ 245/ – |
| Career | 1992-2003 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Catches (Test/ODI/T20) | 34/ 105/ – |
