They say, “Catches win Matches!” It is one of the truest Cricketing proverbs you might have realized if you ever played or watched the Gentleman’s game. Sometimes people get so obsessed with runs and wickets that they fail to notice the contribution of the fielders in stopping runs or winning a wicket. The one who is the best fielder in the world will always try to give his best in the field.
In this article, you will get a ranking of some crickets who are regarded as the best fielders in the world. Apart from giving you a ranking, I will also provide you with some details of their career and the reception of these players among the fans and media. Hence, to know more about the best fielder in the world, read on through to the end of the article.
What Is The Job Of A Fielder?
According to MyActiveSG.com, which is a cricketing guide, “Fielding refers to the act of catching, collecting and returning a ball that has been hit by the batsman. There are nine fielders on each team, as one player out of the 11 will have to act as the bowler, while another takes up the role of the wicket keeper.”
The job of a fielder is mainly two. One of which will be to slow down or stop the flow of runs of the batting team. This also includes stopping boundaries. This can be done by gathering the ball after it hits the bat. Furthermore, the fielder can also retire or dismiss a batsman who hit the ball in the air just by catching the ball mid-air. A fielder can also throw the ball at the stumps and dismiss the batsman if the batsman is out of his crease.
MyActiveSg.com further informs, “In terms of fielder positions, there are a variety of roles and names to be aware of. For example, there is a slip, gully, point, third man, fine leg, square leg, mid wicket, mid on, mid off, long off and long on. While these are the main and most common fielder positions, there are many more positions that can be used in a match.”
The Best Cricket Fielder In The World
Who is best fielder in the world?
It is decided by the fielder’s performance within a match. It is decided by how many difficult catches he takes and how many crucial runs he saves by his impressive display inside the field. Furthermore, the best fielders on the team are also quite athletic and agile. In addition to that, they also have amazing reflexes, which allow them to judge the movement of the ball faster.
Although there is no proper and sure-shot way of deciding the best fielder, fans, and experts consider only the ones that make the most of their chance. If we use our common sense, we can determine that the best fielder is the one whose one or two fielding displays in the match change the entire course of the match. It basically shifts the momentum of the game and builds more pressure on the batting team.
In addition to that, the fielders that are more acrobatic and athletic on the field grab more attention than the others. Their acrobatic displays remain forever etched into the fans’ memories. Some of the all-time great fielders known for their acrobatics (who are now retired) include Jonty Rhodes, Yuvraj Singh, Ricky Ponting, Paul Collingwood, and many more.
The Top Five Fielders In The World In 2023
The following are the best fielders in the world as of 2023, and we think there shall be hardly any dispute regarding their abilities:
1. Ravindra Jadeja – World No 1 Best Fielder In Cricket
Before the start of the 2023 IPL, reporters asked Jonty Rhodes (arguably the best fielder in the world of all time) to pick three best fielders of now. However, Rhodes selected only one, and that was Ravindra Jadeja. According to NDTV Sports, “Former South Africa player and star fielder Jonty Rhodes has picked the world’s best fielder and it is none other than India’s Ravindra Jadeja. While his all-round abilities with the bat and the bowl are just amazing, Jadeja is a gun fielder and stands out from the crowd in that domain.”
With pace, agility, reflex, and acrobatics, Rabindra Jadeja never disappoints in the field. However, he is also one of the best all-rounders India has ever produced since he also impresses well with the bat and the ball. He is the current best fielder in the world.
2. Faf Du Plessis
This superhumanly fielder from South Africa strengthens any team for which he plays. He is exceptionally good in the outfield and is one of the most agile as well as energetic fielders in the field. Despite being an outfield player, he has an impressive catching rate.
He is best known for catching the ball on the boundary line, those balls which normally would go for a six. Doing so, he dismisses the batsman and also saves runs for the team.
Explore More: Ind Vs Aus T20, ODI, Test Schedule 2023– Fixtures, Venue, And More
3. Glenn Maxwell
Be it any format of the game, Maxwell is a complete package. Although he is and will be best remembered for his fielding, he has some crazy displays with the bat and the ball as well. A born winner, if he did not have good performance with bat and ball, Glen Maxwell tries to impress in the field.
According to CricBuzz.com, “He had three fifty-plus scores from the six innings that he batted in, including a record-breaking century and it his was general rate of scoring that made his knocks highly impactful. Add to this, his useful off spin and exceptional fielding ability, Maxwell proved to be an enviable asset.”
4. Steve Smith
One of the greatest batsmen to ever play the game and surely a legend for Australia, Steve Smith, apart from his exceptional batting displays, is also one of the best fielders of the game. Regarded as one of the best slip-fielders, he also impresses quite well on the outfield. A nightmare for opponent batsmen.
5. Virat Kohli
Already having a legendary status because of his batting, both in India and overseas, Virat Kohli is also one of the best fielders in the world. His own batting displays, however, underrates his fielding. He is quick on the field and takes on the role of a leader for his other teammates.
The best fielding display from Virat Kohli, which reminds me of his greatness as a fielder, is his running out Joe Root, who is unnecessarily trying to take a second run. This was in 2018 on the first Test match of India’s tour of England.
Summing Up
Hope this ranking was helpful for you in getting to know about the best fielder in the world is made of. One of the most common things among all these fielders is that they are extremely athletic and acrobatic. They are also reflexive enough to judge the ball quickly. Furthermore, they also have really good anticipation power of what might happen next.
These factors allow them to prepare accordingly. These aforementioned fielders are also key players for their team, and sometimes they are selected just for the ability to field, even if they have poor form in batting or bowling.
Do you know of other great fielders who need more mentions? Share your opinions with us in the comments section.
Read Also:
