New Zealand’s star batsman Ross Taylor has achieved a feat that no one really talks. In the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Ross Taylor became the second fastest cricketer to take 100 catches in Test cricket. Taylor’s 100th catch was of Rahat Ali. Ross Taylor has bucket like hands and over the years, he has taken some spectacular catches in the slip cordon for New Zealand.
Before the third Test, Taylor had taken 98 catches and he took 3 more catches in the Test and now his current tally reads 101.
The only player who took 100 catches in fewer matches than Ross Taylor is Bob Simpson, who reached the milestone in 54 matches. Simpson finished with 110 catches in 62 Tests.
Ross Taylor also became the fastest New Zealand cricketer to 100 catches in Test cricket. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming too 68 Tests to reach the milestone.
Number of Tests to take 100 Test catches as a fielder in Test cricket:
Fielder | Tests |
Bob Simpson | 54 |
Ross Taylor | 60 |
Stephen Fleming | 68 |
Ian Chappell | 69 |
Greg Chappell | 69 |
Mark Taylor | 71 |
Graeme Smith | 74 |
Brian Lara | 75 |
Mahela Jayawardene | 76 |
Wally Hammond | 76 |
Rahul Dravid | 79 |
Matthew Hayden | 80 |
Garry Sobers | 82 |
Ricky Ponting | 84 |
Colin Cowdrey | 84 |
Andrew Strauss | 84 |
Carl Hooper | 85 |
Mark Waugh | 86 |
Michael Clarke | 86 |
Ian Botham | 87 |
Younis Khan | 91 |
Mohammad Azharuddin | 91 |
Allan Border | 92 |
VVS Laxman | 95 |
Graham Thorpe | 95 |
Vivian Richards | 100 |
Jacques Kallis | 104 |
Alastair Cook | 106 |
Graham Gooch | 110 |
Sunil Gavaskar | 115 |
Shane Warne | 116 |
Steve Waugh | 140 |
Sachin Tendulkar | 154 |
The list comprises of some of the great slip fielders, who through their catching a lot to their respective teams. The likes of Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene, Ricky Ponting and many more, were all great slip fielders.
Australia have always been a great fielding unit. They have produced many great fielders over the years, and there was a time when their slip cordon used to one of the best in the world. The table below lists the number of fielders from each team with 100 catches.
Number of fielders from each team with 100 catches
Team | Fielders with 100 catches | Highest |
Australia | 11 | Ricky Ponting (196) |
Bangladesh | – | Mohammad Ashraful (25) |
England | 7 | Andrew Strauss (121) |
India | 5 | Rahul Dravid (210) |
New Zealand | 2 | Stephen Fleming (171) |
Pakistan | 1 | Younis Khan (104) |
South Africa | 2 | Jacques Kallis (200) |
Sri Lanka | 1 | Mahela Jayawardene (205) |
West Indies | 4 | Brian Lara (164) |
Zimbabwe | – | Alistair Campbell (60) |