The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 got underway on Thursday with a repeat of last edition’s final: England, now the reigning, defending champions, taking on New Zealand, who lost the last two ODI WC finals. This 45-day, 10-team tournament kick-off at the iconic Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad and will conclude on November 19 at the same venue.
While fans and experts always talk about the strengths and weaknesses in the batting and bowling departments whenever dissecting any team, they often tend to forget the importance of fielding, and what significant impact good fielders make on the game. A superb catch or a direct-hit run-out has the power to change the momentum of a game at any time.
Here are the top 5 best fielders in World Cup 2023:
Glenn Phillips
At some point in the World Cup 2023, you are likely to read the sentence “Is it a bird or is it a plane? No it’s Glenn Phillips”.
The New Zealand powerhouse that is Glenn Phillips is hailed as one of the best, if not the best, fielders in the world currently. In almost every series or tournament he plays, Phillips gives an iconic flying catch or a magnificent display of a fielding effort, showcasing his incredible physique and athleticism.
Ravindra Jadeja
Quite possibly India’s greatest-ever fielder is Ravindra Jadeja. The man from Saurashtra is one of the best movers on the ground and rarely drops a catch. Like Yuvraj Singh before him, Jadeja is well-known for his direct-hits, and he’s the best fielder in the world at the point position. The batters often have to reassess themselves while running between the wickets whenever the ball goes near Jadeja.
David Warner
Australia’s David Warner can often be seen manning the long-on and long-off boundaries. Captains generally put their best fielder in those positions, and Warner is certainly Australia’s best fielder. He runs like a Cheetah as a boundary rider and is ready to put his body on the line to take catches.
Rashid Khan
Is there anything this man cannot do on a cricket field? World-famous for his incredible bowling in white-ball cricket and his snake shot with the bat in hand, not many people talk about Rashid Khan’s spectacular fielding.
The 25-year-old Afghanistan leg-spinner is a very quick fielder, nimble on his feet, Rashid can move from one part of the ground to another swiftly like a glider.
David Miller
Most likely playing in his last ODI World Cup, South Africa’s David Miller is one of the best when it comes to fielding and catching. Always alert and on his toes, Miller is one of the safest catches in world cricket and rarely makes a mistake in the field. Any Protea bowler in the World Cup 2023 can always bank on whenever the ball goes to Miller.
