Steve Smith surpasses Mark Waugh to etch his name in elite catching list in Tests

In a remarkable achievement, Australian batter Steve Smith has etched his name in the record books by surpassing former Australian player Mark Waugh to become the second-most prolific fielder for Australia in Test cricket. Smith's agility and sharp reflexes have been instrumental in his rise to the top of the catching charts.

Notably, during the ongoing Test match against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Smith showcased his exceptional fielding skills by taking two crucial catches. His catch to dismiss Will Young off the bowling of Travis Head was a pivotal moment that propelled him past Mark Waugh's previous record. Earlier in the innings, Smith also displayed great presence of mind to catch Kane Williamson off Nathan Lyon's delivery from leg slip.

Steve Smith's journey to becoming one of Australia's most reliable fielders has been nothing short of impressive. With 182 catches under his belt from 108 Test matches, he now sits comfortably in second place, behind only the legendary Aussie skipper, Ricky Ponting, who holds the record with 196 catches from 168 Tests. Smith's ability to anticipate the ball's trajectory and react swiftly has been a valuable asset to the Australian team.

Most catches for Australia in Test cricket (non wicketkeeper):

Ricky Ponting – 196 catches from 168 Tests

Steve Smith – 182* catches from 108 Tests

Mark Waugh – 181 catches from 128 Tests

Mark Taylor – 157 catches from 104 Tests

Allan Border – 156 catches from 156 Tests

Steve Smith going through lean patch as an opener for Australia in Test format

The Wellington Test not only witnessed Steve Smith's exemplary catching but also highlighted his persistent struggle as an opener for Australia. Smith was promoted up the order after David Warner retired from this format of the game.

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In the first innings, he scored 31 runs off 71 balls before falling to Matt Henry, and in the second innings, he was dismissed for a duck by Tim Southee. As a Test opener, Smith has accumulated 151 runs at an average of 37.75, with a highest score of 91 not out.

New Zealand found themselves chasing a target of 369 runs to secure a victory in the Test match. Having already lost three wickets, the team managed to score 111 runs before the umpires called stumps on Day 3, leaving them with 258 more runs to win the game on the following day.

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