South Africa vs Australia 1st Test, Day 3: Steve Smith breaks record for most Test catches by fielder
Steve Smith’s catch to dismiss David Bedingham was his 221st, one more than the number of catches taken by Joe Root from England. | Photo Credit: AFP
Steve Smith’s catch to dismiss David Bedingham was his 221st, one more than the number of catches taken by Joe Root from England. | Photo Credit: AFP
Australia’s Steve Smith broke the Test record for the most catches by a fielder when he caught South Africa’s David Bedingham on the third day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Sunday.
It marks Smith’s 221st catch, one more than the number of catches taken by Joe Root from England.
Smith, playing in his 126th Test, lunged to his left from second slip to hold a sharp edge from Bedingham off Australian captain Pat Cummins.
The bowler gets the wicket, but the fielder steals the show 😮💨 Sharp reflexes, impossible dives, one-handed stunners — Steve Smith has pulled them all off today and become Test cricket's most prolific catcher as a fielder 🐐 #SAvAUS https://t.co/AhK4KEwGll
— CricketNews.com (@cricketnews_com) October 11, 2026
He equalled the record earlier fielding at a lone slip when South African captain Temba Bavuma reverse swept off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Smith anticipated, moving to his right and Bavuma’s mistimed shot went straight into his hands.
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Smith thought he had taken another catch when he held a low edge from Wiaan Mulder at slip in the over before lunch. Mulder started walking off the field but the umpires reviewed the incident and decided the ball had not carried.
Despite the reprieve, South Africa was struggling at 115 for four at lunch in reply to Australia’s 390 all out.
Published on Oct 11, 2026
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