By Katab Hussain
In the game of cricket–dubbed as a gentleman’s game—everybody knows that catches win matches. The breathtaking moments amuse the cricket-fans making them give standing ovations to the players who outclass the rival players with his sharp reflexes.
The field department in this game is crucial which can lead your team to a victory stand or sheer collapse of the team position. A clear-cut example of poor performance in the field department is Osama Mir, a spinner of the Pakistan cricket team. Osama Mir dropped the catch of Australian opener—David Warner—when he posted just 12 runs in a ICC World Cup 2023 match played in Bengaluru, India.
The poor performance of Osama Mir cost the Men in Green dearly as David Warner knocked a century (total 163 runs) against Pakistan helping his team to outshine Pakistan for a 62-run win. This victory sent Kangaroos fourth in the point table of the tournament.
As you have touched the importance of sharp reflex in the field department and now, we are sure you want to know the players who displayed their brilliance in this segment. So, don’t worry we are here to quench your thirst and cut through the cricket history pages carrying the records of the players who took most catches.
First Top Catch Masters
During sifting of the cricket chronicles’, we have found that former Australian captain—Ricky Ponting—is the record holder as he had taken an astounding 28 catches in 46 ICC World Cup matches. Due to the record of most catches, the cricket-fanciers dubbed Ricky Ponting a player who had a magnet in his hands which invited the attention of the ball. The safe hands of Ricky Ponting and his unparalleled reflexes and fielding skills shaped him into a brilliant fielder in cricket history who graced the grounds.
The Kangaroos former captain had enjoyed six editions of the World Cup—1996- 2011– and during this stint he left an indelible impact on the fields by showcasing his expertise as an excellent catcher.
Ricky Ponting not only slated the cricket history in the catches field, he also guided his team to two consecutive ICC World Cup victories. First Kangaroos had clinched the ICC World Cup in 2003 and then in 2007. A productive and charismatic Ricky Ponting paved the way for quality cricketing for Australia and future champions.
Joe Root of England, who is the defending champion in the ICC World Cup 2023 tournament, is at number 2 with 24 amazing catches in 21 matches. His World Cup span started in 2015 and he is still contributing for his team who is in a difficult situation this time in the ICC World Cup 2023 tournament.
He also led his team in 64 test matches of them 27 won, 26 lost and 11 were declared drawn.
As the ICC World Cup is famous because of the spine-chilling fixtures and jaw dropping scenes, the Sri Lankan, former captain Sanath Jayasuriya who caught 18 catches in 38 matches of the ICC World Cup during his span—1992-2007.
Sanath Jayasuriya’s capability to grip catches even under immense pressure helped his side to win matches. You would not believe that Sanath Jayasuriya was not good at bat as he was enrolled in the team as a bowler, however, the world observed when he knocked runs briskly in every format of the cricket leaving an incredible impression. He also exhibited his bowling skills and with his magic fingers reduced and smashed batters on the field.
In his four-year stint as captain his last participation was recorded in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2003.
The hand-eye coordination of Virat Kohli, the former Indian skipper and the key batter, helped him to hold fourth position on the most catches table. Virat Kohli is strengthening his team in the ICC World Cup 2023 being hosted in his country and the position of India is very strong in this mega tournament.
Virat Kohli often employs the practical assiduousness and earning extol globally. His ICC World Cup span started in 2011 and so far, he has participated in 30 encounters and taken 17 catches.
As India is known as a country which has produced so many cricket stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma and many more, but Virat Kohli is exceptional.
Fifth player on the most catch taker table is Chris Gayle, a former skipper of the West Indies who enjoyed 35 matches in the ICC World Cup and targeted 17 players.
A propelling Jamaican left-hander, Chris Gayle, is known as the aggressive batter and an entertainer cricketer who often amused the cricket-lovers on the field. As Chris Gayle is carrying many strengths but among them is his vivid hand-eye coordination which helped West Indies secure victory.
So, with the given statistics this age-old maxim in the field of cricket appears true so far that catches win matches. The players’ skill in the fielding department put pressure even on belligerent batters and paved the way for the victory. It’s a weighty psychological impact on the batter when he moves the ball towards a vigilant player whose hand-eye coordination is marvelous.
As the veteran cricketers say that a catch can improve the entire moods of the bowling side and dishearten the batters. The fielders having sharp reflexes and agility are valuable assets to their sides as every catch does matter for the entire game.