England captain Joe Root and Australia’s Steve Smith share the record for the most catches in Test history by an outfield fielder, on 219 each. Root has taken his in 168 Tests, Smith in 125.
Both passed Rahul Dravid, who held the record for more than a decade and finished on 210 catches in 164 Tests. Dravid is now third.
Despite that tally, the Karnataka-born cricketer has taken a maximum of three catches in an innings of a Test match. A regular slip fielder for India during his playing days, Dravid played a pivotal role in helping Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh claim several of their Test wickets.
Fourth on the list of most catches in Test history is Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene. The ex-Sri Lanka skipper completed 205 catches in 149 Test matches before calling time on his playing career. Jayawardene was amongst the best slip fielders of his era and formed great coordination with former off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan, helping him bag 72 off his 800 Test dismissals.
Dravid and Jayawardene are followed by former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis, ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting and former Australia cricketer Mark Waugh.
Jacques Kallis took 200 catches in 166 Tests while Ricky Ponting grabbed 196 catches in 168 matches. Meanwhile, Mark Waugh, considered to have one of the safest pairs of hands during his playing career, took 181 catches in 128 Tests.
Root and Smith are the only active players in the top ten. Ross Taylor, who led the active list when this page was first written, retired in 2022 on 163 catches from 112 Tests and now sits 12th.
Most catches in Test cricket
| Player | Span | Matches | Innings | Catches |
| Joe Root | 2012-2026 | 168 | 321 | 219 |
| Steve Smith | 2010-2026 | 125 | 239 | 219 |
| Rahul Dravid | 1996-2012 | 164 | 301 | 210 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 1997-2014 | 149 | 270 | 205 |
| Jacques Kallis | 1995-2013 | 166 | 315 | 200 |
| Ricky Ponting | 1995-2012 | 168 | 328 | 196 |
| Mark Waugh | 1991-2002 | 128 | 245 | 181 |
| Alastair Cook | 2006-2018 | 161 | 300 | 175 |
| Stephen Fleming | 1994-2008 | 111 | 199 | 171 |
| Graeme Smith | 2002-2014 | 117 | 225 | 169 |
| Brian Lara | 1990-2006 | 131 | 241 | 164 |
| Ross Taylor | 2007-2022 | 112 | 212 | 163 |
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Featured photo: PRAKASH SINGH / AFP