Top 10 Fielders with most catches in World cup

Top 10 Fielders with most catches in World cup: Catches win matches is a very true saying in cricket. An important catch at a crucial time can win a team matches. And similarly a catch dropped at a crucial point in the match can lose you the game. Here are 10 fielders with most catches in World cup. 10. Aravinda de Silva (SL 1987-2003) Mt: 35 Ct: 14 Aravinda de Silva has taken 14 catches in World cup. (Photo Source: AFP) Aravinda de Silva was supposedly the safest catcher in the early Sri Lankan team. He was good in slips, covers, mid-on or mid-off. Being a bowler, he also took caught and bowls quite often. He took 14 catches in 35 World cup games. 9. Steve Waugh (Aus 1987-1999) Mt: 33 Ct: 14 Steve Waugh has taken 14 catches in World cup. (Photo Source: AFP) A safe fielder at mid-wicket, covers and gully, Steve Waugh was a constant presence in the 15 yard circle. He rarely went into the outfield and was always available for the bowlers for advice, suggestions and constant encouragement. Steve Waugh took 14 catches from 33 matches in World cup from 1987-1999. 8. Anil Kumble (India 1996-2007) Mt: 18 Ct: 14 Anil Kumble has taken 14 catches in World cup. (Photo Source: AFP) Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble topped the table for most catches in the 1996 Wills World cup with 8 catches. He was a constant lurker in the gully and seldom let any ball go past him. He was also an excellent catcher of his own balling too. Anil Kumble took 14 catches in 18 World cup matches from 1996-2007 7. Mahela Jayawardene (SL 1999-2015) Mt: 35 Ct: 15 Mahela Jayawardene has taken 15 catches in World cup. (Photo Source: BCCI) Probably the best slips fielder in recent years, Mahela Jayawardene made slip catching an art, taking extra ordinary catches of the bowling of Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and now Rangana Herath. Perfect technique, hand-eye coordination gives him that extra bit of time to catch a ball out of thin air. Jayawardene has taken 15 catches in 35 World cup matches so far. 6. Graeme Smith (SA 2003-2011) Mt: 20 Ct: 15 South Africa’s Graeme Smith has taken 15 catches in World cup. (Photo: Getty Images) Another brilliant slips fielder and man with buckets for hands. Graeme Smith took safe and brilliant catches at first slip for South Africa for his entire career. A gigantic man with large hands, he could easily pouch the ball and the South African pace battery must be thankful that he was there to bring results to their efforts. Smith took 15 catches in 20 World cup matches. 5. Brian Lara (WI 1992-2007) Mt: 34 Ct: 16 Brian Lara has taken 16 catches in World cup. (Photo Source : Getty Images) Former West Indian captain and one of the greatest batsman of all times, Brian Lara was also a very safe slips catches. The West Indian pace bowlers from 90s were good enough to induce edges from the bowlers and Lara took some fantastic catches off the likes of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Mervyn Dillion and others. He took 16 catches in 34 matches from 1992 to 2007. 4. Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak 1992-2007) Mt: 35 Ct: 16 Inzamam has taken 16 catches for Pakistan in World cup.(Photo Source: Getty Images ) The gentle giant Inzamam-ul-Haq or Inzi was a slips fielder par excellence. He was also good at mid-off region and took catches pretty easily. Inzi took 16 catches in his 35 World cup matches from 1992-2007. 3. Chris Cairns (NZ 1992-2003) Mt: 28 Ct:16 Chris Cairns has taken 16 catches in his World cup career. ( Image Source : AFP ) Kiwi all-rounder Chris Cairns was a brilliant outfielder and expert sky-high catcher. His 16 catches in 28 World cup record for New Zealand from 1992-2003 won’t be broken for a long time. 2. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL 1992-2007) Mt: 38 Ct: 18 Sanath Jayasuriya took 18 catches in World cup from 1992-2007. (Photo Source: Getty Images ) Sri Lankan destructive batsman Sanath Jayasuriya was brilliant at point and covers and was capable of stopping a bullet from going past him. That’s the reason that he is on the 2nd spot of the most catches taken by a fielder in World cup list. He has 18 catches from 38 World cup matches from 1992-2007. 1. Ricky Ponting (Aus 1996-2011) Mt: 46 Ct:28 Ricky Ponting took a record 28 catches in World cups from 1996-2011. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Former Australian Captain and 3 time World cup winner Ricky Ponting was widely regarded as the greatest fielder in modern cricket history along with Jonty Rhodes and Herschelle Gibbs. He was brilliant at second or third slip and magnificent at the backward point area. His ability to defy gravity and come up with catches that not everyone can hold was phenomenal. He has the record for most catches in World cup history with 28 catches in 46 matches from 1996-2011. *All the stats are updated till 23rd Feb 2015 * All figures exclude catches made as a wicketkeeper, except for matches played which is the career figure.