Fielding is one of the most undervalued and underappreciated aspects of cricket, as numerous experts and pundits have noted. The adage “Catches Win Matches” is used by all. It is therefore acceptable to assume that every team needs strong fielders who can play the hardest of the hardest positions on the cricket pitch.
But, arguably, one of the hardest responsibilities is fielding in the slips. Given how quickly the ball arrives, slip fielders must always be at their best. Often, slip cordons for captains include their finest slip fielders. World-class slip fielders like Joe Root, Rahul Dravid, and Mark Waugh have all been present over the years.
Taking a look at the top five best slip fielders of all-time
5) Steve Smith
Steve Smith
Steve Smith is an expert at slip fielding, there is no denying it. In his career, the Australian stalwart has made seemingly impossible slip catches appear deceptively simple. It is difficult for batters to get by him and score runs because of his accuracy and attention to detail on the field.
The athlete, who was born in New South Wales, has made 95 appearances for his country’s national side and has played 181 innings. With these fielding statistics, he is ranked fifth among Australian cricketers in terms of total catches across all formats.
