‘Sensational’: Steve Smith is officially Australia’s best fielder in 43 years

Steve Smith’s record with the bat is nothing short of extraordinary — but he also ranks among Australia’s all-time greats in the field.

Steve Smith of Australia. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith pouched six catches during last week’s day-night Ashes Test in Adelaide, but it easily could have been seven.

Late on day four, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon found the outside edge of Dawid Malan’s bat and the edge flew towards Smith at first slip.

But the 32-year-old spilt the regulation chance, gifting the left-handed Malan an extra life in the second innings.

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It was a rare blunder from the Australian slip cordon, who have been exceptional throughout the one-sided Test series against England.

David Warner, Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have hardly put a foot wrong in the opening two Tests, while Cameron Green seems to be improving in the gully with every match he plays at international level.

Smith has taken 131 catches in Test cricket, the sixth most of any non-wicketkeeping Australian in history — the five cricketers above him on that list each played at least 25 more Tests than the New South Welshman.

Smith is the only non-wicketkeeping cricketer from any nation to take three or more catches in a Test innings on 14 occasions.

The Adelaide pink-ball fixture was the fourth Test in which Smith has taken six catches — no other Australian has achieved the feat twice.

The only Australian fielder with more catches per Test innings is the legendary Bob Simpson, who on average claimed 0.940 chances every time he took the field.

Hey do you think Steve Smith could teach an old lady how to catch? I’d like to be a better example to my grandsons. #TheAshes

— Dr Jenna Price (@JennaPrice) December 20, 2021

Steve Smith has had a sensational slip-catching match on his brief return to Test captaincy #Ashes

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 20, 2021

Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and David Warner. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Most catches per Test innings for an Australian fielder

0.940 — Bob Simpson (1957-1978)

0.867 — Steve Smith (2010-2021)

0.840 — Jack Gregory (1920-1928)

0.796 — Mark Taylor (1989-1999)

0.739 — Greg Chappell (1970-1984)

* Minimum 20 Tests

Meanwhile, England’s fielding this summer has been woeful — it’s arguably been the most glaring point of difference betweet the two sides.

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler somehow managed to take three screamers behind the stumps and put down three sitters in the Adelaide Test.

“Jos, he is going to hurt tonight,” England assistant coach Graham Thorpe said after day one.

“Everyone … who has played this game drops a catch, is always disappointed.”

Opening batter Rory Burns also dropped a soda during the Gabba Test. Australia was 1/114 when English seamer Ollie Robinson created the long-awaited opportunity, drawing Warner onto the front foot and finding the outside edge.

The catch flew towards Burns at second slip at waist height, but the ball burst through his fingers. Robinson did not attempt to hide his disgust.

England has bottled a total of 12 catches in Brisbane and Adelaide and missed an additional four run-outs — the errors have cost Joe Root’s side a total of 235 runs.

England's biggest problem is their catching.

If they had taken their chances, this game would have been a lot tighter.

Only Bangladesh has a worse record - cordon - in recent times.

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) December 19, 2021

Is there any top team that's worse than England when it comes to catching behind the wickets?#AshesTest

— Parth MN (@parthpunter) December 16, 2021

“From a bowling point of view, when we are creating those chances, we’re not catching them,” former England paceman Steve Harmison told news.com.au, speaking on behalf of Genting Casino.

“That is something you can prepare for. Catching cricket balls at the top level comes down to concentration, and that is something that has beaten England so far.

“Australia have played well, but I don’t think they’ve had to work too hard to be 2-0 up … England have contributed to that.”

The third Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at the MCG on Sunday, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEDT.