
Australian cricketer Steve Smith took another step towards becoming an all-time Test great during the ongoing Ashes 2025/26 series. The talented Aussie was all over England from start to finish as he set his sights on recognition at the Brisbane Test.
Smith equalled the remarkable tally of 210 fielding catches by a non-wicketkeeper set by Indian Test maestro Rahul Dravid.
How Did Smith Equal Rahul Dravid’s Mammoth Catches Tally at the Ashes?
Smith relied on his wealth of experience to register four (4) catches against England, a feat that helped the hosts secure a much-needed victory over their visitors. The veteran’s remarkable catching spree helped Australia ease into a comfortable chase as England grappled to mount any meaningful challenge.
Which Cricketer Benefited Directly from Smith’s Fielding Heroics at Brisbane?
Michael Neser paired nicely with Smith and other fielders to ensure England’s batters failed to exert control over the game. Smith’s catching galore made it easy for Neser to bag his first international 5-wicket haul.
Smith’s catches also helped build momentum as Australia coasted to a smooth 2-0 lead vs England with three games left to play.
Where Does Steve Smith Now Rank Among Non-Fielders with the Most Catches?
Smith now places joint-second among top non-fielders with the most catches in Tests. His heroics in Brisbane now puts him atop Rahul since he achieved the feat in fewer innings. It took Rahul 301 innings to bag 210 catches; however, Smith recorded the same tally in 70 fewer innings.
| Player Name | Matches | Innings | Catches | Most in an Innings | Catches per Inning |
| Joseph Root (England) | 160 | 305 | 213 | 4 | 0.698 |
| Steven Smith (Australia) | 121 | 231 | 210 | 5 | 0.909 |
| Rahul Dravid (India) | 164 | 301 | 210 | 3 | 0.697 |
| Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) | 149 | 270 | 205 | 4 | 0.759 |
| Jacques Kallis (South Africa) | 166 | 315 | 200 | 4 | 0.634 |
| Ricky Ponting (Australia) | 168 | 328 | 196 | 3 | 0.597 |
| Mark Waugh (Australia) | 128 | 245 | 181 | 4 | 0.738 |
| Alastair Cook (England) | 161 | 300 | 175 | 3 | 0.583 |
| Stephen Fleming (New Zealand) | 111 | 199 | 171 | 5 | 0.859 |
| Graeme Smith (South Africa) | 117 | 225 | 169 | 5 | 0.751 |
| Brian Lara (West Indies) | 131 | 241 | 164 | 4 | 0.680 |
Smith is now within touching distance of England’s Joe Root (213 catches) as both batsmen clash for Test bragging rights in the latest Ashes.
Top Steve Smith Test Records
Steve Smith holds several impressive records in Tests and continues to improve his profile with every remarkable performance in long-format games. Some of the cricketer’s best feats achieved in Tests are:
| Category | Rank | Record Description |
| Allround: Batting & Fielding | – | 5000 runs and 50 fielding dismissals |
| Batting: Hundreds | 6th | Most hundreds in a career (36) |
| 18th | Most double hundreds in a career (4) | |
| – | Hundred in each innings of a match | |
| 3rd | Most hundreds in a series (4) | |
| 6th | Most hundreds in a calendar year (6) | |
| 4th | Most hundreds against one team (12) | |
| 5th | Hundreds in consecutive matches (4) | |
| Batting: Nineties | 21st | Most nineties in career (5) |
| Batting: Fifties | 13th | Most fifties in career (80) |
| 7th | Fifties in consecutive innings (6) | |
| Batting: Ducks & Pairs | – | Hundred and a duck in a match |
| Batting: Long Innings | – | Carrying bat through a completed innings (91*) |
| Batting: Fastest Career Runs | 2nd | Fastest to 6000 runs (111 innings) |
| 1st | Fastest to 7000 runs (126 innings) | |
| 1st | Fastest to 8000 runs (151 innings) | |
| 2nd | Fastest to 9000 runs (174 innings) | |
| 5th | Fastest to 10000 runs (205 innings) | |
| Fielding: Most Catches | 2nd | Most catches in career (210) |
| 1st | Most catches in an innings (5) | |
| 9th | Most catches in a match (6) | |
| 12th | Most catches in a series (12) |
Smith also holds the record for most catches in an innings as a non-fielder.
Which Players Have the Most Catches as Substitutes in Test Cricket?
Some cricketers have made their mark as substitute fielders in long-format cricket. These players have a similar work profile to Smith, who favours fielding whenever his skills are needed. Let’s see some of the top players with most catches as non-starters in Tests:
| Player Name | Catches | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
| Gursharan Singh | 4 | India | W/Indies | Ahmedabad | 12 Nov 1983 |
| Younis Khan | 4 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Multan | 29 Aug 2001 |
| Virender Sehwag | 4 | India | Zimbabwe | Nagpur | 21 Feb 2002 |
| Jackson Munro Bird | 4 | Australia | Pakistan | Sydney | 3 Jan 2017 |
| Wriddhiman Prasanta Saha | 4 | India | Australia | Sydney | 7 Jan 2021 |
| Oliver John Douglas Pope | 4 | England | Australia | Sydney | 5 Jan 2022 |
| Dhruv Chand Jurel | 4 | India | England | Manchester | 23 Jul 2025 |
| Henry Strudwick | 3 | England | Australia | Melbourne | 1 Jan 1904 |
| John Edwin Douglas Sealy | 3 | W/Indies | England | Port of Spain | 1 Feb 1930 |
| Wilfred Valentino Rodriguez | 3 | W/Indies | India | Port of Spain | 16 Feb 1962 |
| Yajurvindra Singh | 3 | India | W/Indies | Chennai | 12 Jan 1979 |
