Australia's stand-in captain and star batter Steve Smith etched his name in the record books on Sunday, February 8 by becoming the first player from Australia to take 200 catches in Test cricket. (Match Blog | Cricket News)
Smith, who is leading the WTC finalists in the ongoing two-match series against Sri Lanka, achieved this milestone during the first session of the day 4 play of the second Test at the Galle International Stadium. Smith completed his 200th catch by completing Kusal Mendis' catch off Nathan Lyon in the 64th over in Sri Lanka's second innings.
Smith completed a total of five catches in the game. He becomes the fifth cricketer in the world after Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene, and Joe Root to take 200 catches in Tests.
In the list, former India coach Dravid leads the way with 210 catches in 164 matches, followed by Root (207), Jayawardene is fourth with 205 and Kallis is tied with Smith at 200 catches.
Most catches in Tests
Rahul Dravid (India) – 210
Joe Root (England) – 207
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 205
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 200
Steve Smith (Australia) – 200*
Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 196
Mark Waugh (Australia) – 181
Alastair Cook (England) – 175
Stephen Fleming (New Zealand) – 171
Graeme Smith (South Africa) – 169
Most catches for Australia in Tests
Steve Smith – 200
Ricky Ponting – 196
Mark Waugh – 181
Mark Taylor – 157
Allan Border – 156
Michael Clarke – 134
Matthew Hayden – 128
Shane Warne – 125
Greg Chappell – 122
Steve Waugh – 112
Moreover, Smith is also the fastest-ever to score 10,000 runs (in terms of matches) for Australia, when he achieved it in the series. He scored 36 centuries and only Ricky Ponting (41) has more.
The century in the 1st innings of the second Test also saw Smith become the second Aussie batter and third overall to score 4000 runs in WTC.
