Steve Smith’s brilliance in the slips continues to set him apart as one of the finest fielders Test cricket has ever seen. Renowned for his lightning reflexes, safe hands and remarkable anticipation, Smith once again showcased his mastery to carve out a historic milestone.
During the fourth Ashes Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Smith overtook Indian great Rahul Dravid to become the second-highest catch-taker as a fielder in Test cricket history. Smith now has 212 Test catches, moving past Dravid’s tally of 210, with only England’s Joe Root ahead of him on 214.
Smith reached the landmark in his 232nd Test innings, placing him among elite company that includes legends such as Mahela Jayawardene and Jacques Kallis.
Most catches as a fielder in Test cricket:
Joe Root (England) – 214
Steve Smith (Australia) – 212
Rahul Dravid (India) – 210
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 205
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 200
Smith’s excellence in the field extends beyond the longest format as well. With his latest effort, he also moved past Virat Kohli to register 344 catches across all formats, climbing to fourth place on the all-time list and trailing only Jayawardene, Ricky Ponting and Ross Taylor.
The milestone moments came during England’s chase. Zak Crawley was first undone by Mitchell Starc’s angled delivery, edging the ball straight into Smith’s hands at second slip for his 211th Test catch. Soon after, Ben Stokes fell victim to a similar trap, edging Michael Neser to Smith once again, allowing the Australian star to claim his 212th catch in the format.
While Smith added another feather to his illustrious career, England’s woes deepened on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test. After Australia were bowled out for 152, the visitors collapsed dramatically under pressure. England slumped to 77 for seven within 21 overs, still trailing by over 50 runs, as Australia tightened their grip on the fourth Test.
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