Steve Smith has become the record-holder for most catches in Test cricket by a non-wicketkeeper. He achieved this on the third day of the first Test between South Africa and Australia. Smith took three catches on the day. His 221st catch took him past Joe Root.
The first catch came to dismiss Temba Bavuma. It was Smith’s 220th Test catch. Bavuma tried a reverse sweep. Smith had already started moving before the shot was played. That put him in the right position to take the catch. It was the 64th time Smith had taken a catch off Nathan Lyon’s bowling. That is a very successful partnership for Australia.
The second catch was off Pat Cummins’s bowling. Cummins bowled a back-of-a-length ball on the off-stump line. It bounced awkwardly. David Bedingham pushed at the ball without moving his feet much. The ball flew off the outside edge towards the gap between the first and second slip. Smith reacted quickly. He dived to his left and took a stunning catch. That catch made him the player with the most Test catches as a non-wicketkeeper. He went past Joe Root. Root had set the record just 31 days earlier.
Smith now leads a list of great fielders. That list includes Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Mark Waugh. These players are known for their slip catching over the years.
His sharpest catch came off Lyon’s bowling to dismiss Verreynne. Once again, a batter tried a reverse sweep. This time, the ball connected better with the bat. Smith had very little time to react. He dived to his right and took a one-handed stunner. Even Marnus Labuschagne was amazed. His voice could be heard on the stump mic. He said, “Oh my God!!! Smudge. Oh my God!!!”
Top 5 Players with the Most Catches in Test Cricket
1. Steve Smith – The New Record Holder
Steve Smith is the outright leader for most catches in Test cricket. He achieved this during the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban. He surpassed Joe Root’s previous record of 220 catches. The record-breaking moment was a stunning one-handed diving catch at first slip. He dismissed David Bedingham off Pat Cummins’ bowling. Bedingham was batting on 49 and missed his half-century by just one run. Smith later added catches to dismiss Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne. His tally reached 223 by the end of the match. He reached this milestone in his 126th Test match.
2. Joe Root – The Former Record Holder
Joe Root held the record for most catches by a fielder in Test cricket for several months in 2026. He first surpassed Steve Smith’s then tally of 218 in August 2026. He reached 220 catches across 169 Test matches. Smith then reclaimed the top spot in October 2026. He took his 211th catch on July 11, 2025, at Lord’s. That broke Rahul Dravid’s long-standing record of 210. The catch was a stunning one-handed low grab at first slip. He dismissed Karun Nair off Ben Stokes’ bowling. It was described as flying to his left and taking a low catch just inches off the ground.
3. Rahul Dravid – The Long-Standing Benchmark
Rahul Dravid is known as The Wall for his batting. He was equally formidable in the field. He held the record for most catches by a fielder in Test cricket for over a decade. He amassed 210 catches in 164 Test matches between 1996 and 2012. His record stood from 2012 until Joe Root surpassed it in July 2025. His tally remains the highest by an Indian fielder in Test history. His catch rate of 0.70 per innings is among the best in the top five. He combined his exceptional fielding with over 13,000 Test runs.
4. Mahela Jayawardene – The Sri Lankan Legend
Mahela Jayawardene was one of the safest close-in fielders of his era. He was particularly good against spin bowling. He finished his career with 205 catches in 149 Test matches. That is the highest by any Sri Lankan fielder. His 205 catches came at a rate of 0.76 per innings. That is the highest catch rate among the top five on this list. He was a specialist slip fielder. He combined his catching prowess with over 11,000 Test runs.
5. Jacques Kallis – The All-Round Great
Jacques Kallis was an exceptional slip fielder. He finished his career with 200 catches in 166 Test matches. That was the joint fifth most in history, alongside Steve Smith at the time of his retirement. His 200 catches came in addition to his staggering 13,289 Test runs and 292 Test wickets. He was particularly effective in the slips. His catch rate of 0.63 per innings reflects his longevity and consistency across 166 Test matches. He retired in 2013 as one of the most complete cricketers the game has ever seen. Kallis was a true legend of the sport.
FAQs
Q. Who holds the record for most catches in Test cricket?
A. Steve Smith holds the record with 223 catches.
Q. Whose record did Steve Smith break in Test cricket?
A. Smith surpassed Joe Root’s record of 220 catches.
Q. How many Test catches did Rahul Dravid take?
A. Rahul Dravid took 210 catches in 164 Test matches.
Q. Which Sri Lankan player took 205 Test catches?
A. Mahela Jayawardene took 205 catches in 149 Test matches.
Q. How many catches did Jacques Kallis take in Test cricket?
A. Jacques Kallis took 200 catches in 166 Test matches.
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