If you are a cricket fan, you may be familiar with some of the greatest fielders of all time.
As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the best fielders who have demonstrated that cricket is more than just batting and bowling. These fielders contributed to the team’s victory by displaying exceptional abilities.
Cricket is a sport that millions of people around the world enjoy. The game is extremely popular around the world and is one of the most watched sports.
Batting and bowling are critical components of winning a game of cricket. However, the importance of fielding is frequently overlooked. A brilliant fielding performance can sometimes change the outcome of a game.
So, let’s get into the specifics of these incredible fielders who, in addition to their skills, have entertained and captured the hearts of fans all over the world.
The 15 Greatest Fielders in Cricket History
The list was compiled using reliable internet sources such as Sportsbrowser and Sportshubnet. But, before we get into the details, consider the table below.
| Players Name | Country |
| 15. Brendon McCullum | New Zealand |
| 14. Virat Kohli | India |
| 13. Glenn Maxwell | Australia |
| 12. Mohammad Kaif | India |
| 11. Dwayne Bravo | Trinidad and Tobago |
| 10. Faf Du Plessis | South Africa |
| 9. Steve Smith | Australia |
| 8. Ravindra Jadeja | India |
| 7. Andrew Symonds | Australia |
| 6. Paul Collingwood | United Kingdom |
| 5. Ricky Pointing | Australia |
| 4. AB de Villiers | South Africa |
| 3. Herschelle Gibbs | South Africa |
| 2. Suresh Raina | India |
| 1. Jonty Rhodes | South Africa |
15. Brendon McCullum
Let us begin our list of the best fielders of all time with a former New Zealand cricketer. Brendon McCullum, born September 27, 1981, is regarded as one of New Zealand cricket’s most successful batters and captains.
Before making his international debut, McCullum played domestic cricket. He is the first and only Kiwi player to score 2000 runs in T20 Internationals, as well as two T20 International centuries.
McCullum became the first player from his country to score a triple om in a Test in 2014. He became the first New Zealander to score 1000 test runs in a calendar year the same year.
Similarly, McCullum became the first batsman in T20I history to score two tons, and in 2016, he became the fastest Test century ever in 54 balls.
He played for various franchises in addition to national and domestic teams in his home country. McCullum announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2019.
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14. Virat Kohli
Virat Kholi is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation, as well as one of the best fielders. The 33-year-old Indian cricketer is also a former captain of the Indian national team.
Kohli, a right-handed cricketer, made his test debut in 2011. He did, however, begin playing cricket for the Delhi Under-15 team in 2002. The former captain made his international debut in 2008 when he was named to the Indian One-Day International team.
Kholi topped the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen for the first time in 2013. Similarly, he was named Man of the Tournament at the ICC World Twenty20 in 2014 and 2016.
In addition to his victories, he holds the record for the fastest international runs and has received numerous awards. Kholi has even been named the most valuable athlete brand by Forbes, and Time magazine has named him one of the world’s 100 most influential people.
Many critics regard him as one of the greatest limited-overs batsmen of all time. Kholi represents Delhi in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
13. Glenn Maxwell
Glenn James Maxwell, an Australian cricketer, comes next on our list. Maxwell, 33, was born Glen James Maxwell and made his professional debut in 2010 for domestic team Victoria.
Maxwell is well-known in the short form of the game for his dramatic shots and improvisation. In 2012, he made his One-Day International debut against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates.
He made his Test debut against India in 2013. Maxwell holds the record for the quickest half-century in Australian domestic one-day cricket. He accomplished this feat in 2011.
In a match against Sri Lanka during the 2015 World Cup, he scored the second-fastest World Cup century. Similarly, against Sri Lanka in 2016, Maxwell scored an unbeaten 145 off 65 balls, the fourth-highest score in Twenty20 Internationals.
Maxwell is only the second Australian to score hundreds in all three formats of the game. He was signed for $1 million by the Mumbai Indians’ IPL team in 2013. He has also played for several international cricket teams.
12. Mohammad Kaif
o, a former Indian professional cricketer born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, played Tests and ODIs. He began his cricket career at Kanpur’s Green Park Hostel.
Kaif’s father was a former cricketer who played for both the Railways and the Uttar Pradesh teams. As a result, Mohammad was exposed to cricket at a young age.
In 2005, he made his first Test debut against South Africa in Bangalore. Soon after, he was chosen for the National Cricket Academy’s first intake.
Kaif is a standout fielder for the Indian cricket team. He was a member of several IPL franchise teams, including the Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
He transitioned into coaching after a successful playing career. He worked as an assistant coach for the Gujarat Lions in 2017. Similarly, Kaif worked as an assistant coach for the Delhi Capitals in 2019 and 2020.
11. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo, a Trinidadian cricketer, is regarded as one of the best death bowlers in T20 cricket. He is also regarded as one of the best midfielders. Bravo, 38, is a former captain of the West Indies cricket team.
The 38-year-old cricketer made his first-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago against Barbados in 2002. Similarly, he made his ODI debut during the Caribbean tour in 2003/04. His debut ODI was against England.
Bavo has been an important member of the West Indies since his international debut. He has also represented the West Indies since 2004.
Bravo was a member of the teams that won the IC Champions Trophy in 2004, the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012, and the ICC World Twenty20 in 2016.
Bravo has also played for the Indian Premier League teams Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Similarly, he has played for Pakistan Super League teams, Big Bash Leagues, the Bangladesh Premier League, and English county cricket.
Bravo, in addition to being a death bowler, is known for his aggressive batting in the middle order. Similarly, he can bowl in a variety of lengths. For example, on October 10, 2021, he reached 550 wickets in his T20 career while playing for Chennai Super Kings.
10. Faf Du Plessis
The 38-year-old was born and raised in Pretoria, Transvaal Province, South Africa. Faf Du Plessis is a South African cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and one of South Africa’s best midfielders.
Du Plessis began his first-class cricket career in 2004 with the Northerns. His first test debut came against Australia in 2012. Similarly, he debuted in ODIs in 2011 and T20Is in 2012.
When Du Plessis made his Test debut, he became the fourth South African to score a Test century. He was also the captain of the team during T20 and Test matches. He is also a former South African national cricket team captain.
Du Plessis played for various international teams in addition to the domestic and national teams. Plessis has played for the IPL teams Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant.
Similarly, he has represented Lancashire County Cricket Club, Pakistani Super League teams, and others. His most recent team was the Saint Lucia Kings of the Caribbean Premier League.
Du has announced his retirement from Test cricket to focus on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups in 2022.
9. Steve Smith
Another Australian cricketer has made our list of the best midfielders of all time. Steve Smith, born Steven Peter Devereux Smith, is a 33-year-old international cricketer and the current vice-captain of Australia’s Test team.
Smith began his career with the Under-19 cricket team. He was a member of the Australian team that competed in Malaysia’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2008. He also made his first-class debut for New South Wales that year.
Smith made his Test and One-Day International debuts in 2010, and his Twenty20 debut in 2008. He was the leading wicket-taker in his Twenty20 debut.
He was a member of various international franchise cricket teams after making his senior debut. Smith was also the captain of the Australian national cricket team.
According to the ICC Player Rankings, he is one of the top-ranked Test batsmen in the world. As a result, he has received awards such as the Sir Garfield Trophy, ICC Test Player of the Year, Allan Border Medal, and others.
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8. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is an Indian cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the best fielders in the world. Jadeja is a 33-year-old left-handed all-rounder.
Jadeja made his debut for India in the Under-19 division when he was 16 years old. He also played for India’s Under-19 team in the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. In the 2006-07 Duleep Trophy, he made his first-class debut.
Similarly, Jadeja made his ODI and Twenty20 debuts in 2009, while he made his Test debut in 2012. In 2017, he rose to the top of the bowling rankings.
Jadeja has been a member of the IPL franchise team since 2008. He was chosen by the Rajasthan Royals for the inaugural season of the IPL. He has also represented the Gujarat Lions and the Chennai Super Kings.
Jadeja currently plays for the first-class team Saurashtra and the IPL team Chennai Super Kings.
7. Andrew Symonds
Former Australian international cricketer Andrew Symonds He was born in Birmingham, England, and was a batting all-rounder in all three formats. Symonds is best known for his exceptional fielding abilities.
Symonds spent the majority of his junior cricket years with the Townsville Wanderers club. However, he made his debut with the Queensland state team in the 1994-95 season. He was known as a hard-hitting right-handed batsman.
Symonds was described as an exceptional fielder by Cricinfo in late 2005. He had the fourth-highest success rate and the fifth-equal most run-outs in ODI cricket of any fielder.
Similarly, he has a reputation for being a versatile player with quick reflexes. He was also very good at catching and had powerful, accurate throwing arms.
Since mid-2008, Symonds’ career has been marred by alcohol and disciplinary issues. As a result, on February 16, 2012, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
6. Paul Collingwood
Paul Collingwood, a 46-year-old former English cricketer, is our number six. He was England’s first T20I captain and appeared in all three game formats.
Collingwood began his professional career in 1995. He signed with Durham, the local county cricket team, and played his first List A one-day match. His first-class debut, however, came in 1996 with Northamptonshire.
Collington made an immediate impression by dismissing former England all-rounder David Capel with his first ball. His professional breakthrough, however, occurred in 2000.
He made his first ODI debut in 2001, and his Test and T20I debuts came in 2003 and 2007, respectively. He captained England’s One-Day International team as well as Durham County Cricket Club.
Collingwood was England’s most capped ODI cricketer until May 2019. He is regarded as one of the best fielders of his generation, having led his country to its first ICC World Twenty20 title in 2010.
Collingwood announced his retirement from first-class and List A cricket in 2018.
5. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting, widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of the modern era, is also a legendary slip fielder. Ponting is a former Australian cricketer who captained the Australian national team.
Ponting learned to play cricket from his father and uncle. Ricky began playing for the Mowbray Under-13 team in 1985-96 at the age of 11. In 1992, he made his first-class debut for Tasmania at the age of 17.
Ponting was the youngest Tasmanian to play in a Sheffield Shield match when he made his first-class debut. In 1995, he made his One-Day International debut.
He is statistically one of the most successful Test captains of all time. Ponting is Australia’s most prolific batter and leading run-scorer in both Test and One-Day International cricket. Likewise, he is the only cricketer in history to have played in 100 Test victories.
In a 2017 Cricket Australia poll, Ponting was named “Cricketer of the Decade 2000” and the country’s best Ashes XI. In 2013, he announced his retirement from the game. He is currently the assistant coach of Australia’s national men’s cricket team.
4. A.B. de Villiers
AB de Villiers, 38, is a former South African cricketer who was born Abraham Benjamin de Villiers. He was also a former South African national team captain in all three formats.
Villers is known for his unconventional shots and is regarded as one of the most innovative and destructive batsmen of the modern era. He is also one of the best midfielders of all time and one of the greatest players of all time.
Villiers played for South Africa’s Under-19 division before making his senior debut with the Titans. Similarly, he made his Test debut against England in 2004 and his One-Day International debut in 2005. In 2006, he made his T20I debut against Australia.
Villiers is one of the few batsmen with a Test and ODI average of over fifty. Furthermore, he holds the record for the fastest ODI century in 31 balls.
In addition to his achievements, Villiers was named Wisden Cricketer of the Decade at the end of 2019 and the ICC ODI Player of the Year three times. In 2021, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
3. Herschelle Gibbs
Herschelle Gibbs, a former South African cricketer, ranks third on our list of the best fielders of all time. He was born Herschelle Herman Gibbs in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, and played all game formats.
Gibbs is one of South Africa’s naturally gifted cricketers. He is also a great fielder and has an uncanny ability to hit the stumps.
Gibbs participated in rugby, cricket, and soccer during the school year. He later decided to concentrate solely on cricket. He made his Test and ODI debuts in 1996, but his T20I debut came in 2005.
During the 2007 Cricket World Cup, he became the first player in ODI history to hit six consecutive sixes in one over. He accomplished this feat during a game against the Netherlands.
Similarly, Gibbs had the tenth highest success rate and the eighth highest number of run-outs of any ODI fielder. Similarly, he is one of only ten ODI batsmen to score hundreds in three consecutive innings.
2. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina, a former Indian international cricketer, is our number two. Raina, 35, is regarded as one of the world’s best fielders as well as an aggressive left-handed middle-order batsman.
Raina, an occasional off-spinner, began his career with the Under-16 cricket team. He later relocated from his hometown of Uttar Pradesh to Lucknow to play cricket.
Raina quickly rose through the ranks to become the captain of Uttar Pradesh’s Under-16 division. Then, at the age of one and a half years, he was chosen by Indian selectors for an Under-19 tour to England in 2002.
Raina made his first ODI debut in 2005, and his T20I debut the following year. He did, however, make his first Test debut in 2010, against Sri Lanka.
Aside from his hometown team, he has played for the IPL franchise teams Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions. Raina was even named “best fielder” by the Board of Control for Cricket in India ahead of the IPL 2010 finals (BCCI).
Raina, the current vice-captain of the Chennai Super Kings, previously captained the Gujarat Lions and the Indian cricket team. He is India’s second-youngest captain and the first batsman to score a century in all three international formats.
1. Jonathan Rhodes
We’ve climbed to the top of our list of the greatest fielders of all time. Jonty Rhodes is our all-time best fielder in cricket history. Rhodes, a retired cricketer, is regarded as one of the greatest fielders of all time.
Rhodes, who was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province, South Africa, was a right-handed batsman known for his quick running. However, defensive fielding, catching, ground fielding, and throwing from his most common position of backward point were his specialties.
Rhodes made his Test debut against India in 1992. In the same year, he made his ODI debut against Australia in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
According to Cricinfo, Rhodes has the third-highest success rate with the ninth-highest number of run-outs in ODI cricket since the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
Rhodes, in addition to being one of the greatest fielders in cricket history, also played hockey. He played hockey for South Africa and was a member of the Olympic team that competed in Barcelona in 1992.
Rhodes’ cricket career ended in 2003. He announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2000, and then, following an injury during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, he announced his retirement from ODI cricket.
Conclusion
Fielders’ contributions are frequently overlooked. Fielders, on the other hand, play critical roles in changing the tides of the game.
What are your thoughts on our list? Who do you believe is the greatest fielder in cricket history? Please notify us!
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