Who is the best allround fielder ever?

[benchmark00]

As have I, but does he qualify as an "elite" slipper - as Ponting does/did?

Probably not enough of a sample size to judge accurately, definitely can't say he isn't though.

 

[Flem274*]

Chris Harris

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Ricky Ponting.

Might as well chop off my right index finger after casting this vote!


Am a bit surprised to see that Colin Bland, Constantine, Derek Randall and Ross Edwards are not among the options.

 

[Flem274*]

Mahanama

Do, doo, do, do, do

 

[Uppercut]

So what aspect of his fielding has dropped (take out the last 12 months due to finger) so much to take him out of the great category?

Just a little slower across the turf, a little more likely to spill a decent chance and a little less inclined to do something spectacular. England's second innings at Lord's in the '09 Ashes comes to mind.

I'm not especially interested in debating it. We've both watched Australia in the field a lot I'm sure and to me he's looked short of his best in the last five years or so. To you he obviously hasn't. Not much more to say.

 

[Cevno]

Ponting's fielding has certainly gone down in recent years from the standards he had before.

 

[smash84]

of course.......the guy is aging.........not everybody is Jayasuriya

 

[SamSawnoff]

Pretty sure that Symonds is the best all round fielder from the 20 years or so that i have been watching.

Rhodes was arguably the greatest fielder ever but he was a specialist, he was terrible in slip for example and did not have the greatest arm.

Collingwood would get the prize of most overrated fielder if you ask me. I think I would Flintoff ahead of Collingwood on that list without thinking twice.

Yep, Symonds for me in the last 15 years and Harper before that. I had to toss up between Harper and Symonds and Harper won.

 

[akilana]

Jonty in the last 20 years.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Trevor Penney.

 

[Howe_zat]

Based on the last couple of decades:

1. AB de Villiers (cover)
2. Herschelle Gibbs (mid-wicket)
3. Ricky Ponting (slip / mid off)
4. Mark Waugh (slip / mid-on)
5. Jonty Rhodes (backward point)
6. Andrew Symonds (utility)
7. Jack Russell (keeper)
8. Brett Lee (somewhere deep)
9. Shane Warne (slip)
10. Jimmy Anderson (utility)
11.

Can't think of another fast bowler OTTOMH

Our StuBo is actually pretty top notch in the outfield lately.

 

[Himannv]

Will give it to Jonty because he's so awesome.

 

[salman85]

I think it's pretty easy to think that Rhodes was the best one.It's got to do with the image he left in our minds - those freaklike catches at backward point and that Inzamam runout,which TBH,is one of the most famous fielding moments in history.Not best,but one of the best known ones.I think he was a fantastic fielder,but the glamour associated with Rhodes' fielding probably makes him look better than he actually was.Not to say he was bad,he was fantastic,but not as good as he is made out to be.

Also,he's probably the only player who was better known for his fielding than any other thing.Can't really think of any other player who's brilliance in a support area overshadowed the ability in his specialist area so massivley.

 

[PhoenixFire]

How good was Rhodes in the outfield though? Can't imagine he had an arm as strong as Symonds.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Highest catches per match ratios in cricket:

HowSTAT! Fielding - Career Catches

 

[Burgey]

Flintoff at slip.

Lol.. Mark Taylor as a slipper was ****ing incredible for an immobile fat ****.

 

[smash84]

Lol.. Mark Taylor as a slipper was ****ing incredible for an immobile fat ****.

So was Shane Warne

 

[Flem274*]

Jess is the same.

Fat men fly.

 

[benchmark00]

So was Shane Warne

Shane Warne was VASTLY overrated as a slips fielder.

 

[weldone]

Garry Sobers won't be a bad shout for this one....

From the ones I've seen live, probably Andrew Symonds...