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Carl Hooper make the difficult ones look sweet and easy.Best in my eyes, wha seh yuh?

In reply to Raggs
I once took five catches fielding at first slip.
It was a Friday afternoon, St. Matthews vs either St. Giles or the Bay Primary.
Our bowlers that evening were, Nathaniel Greaves, Wineton Frederick and Vincent Straker, may they RIP.

In reply to openning

It’s so nice to field at 1st or 2nd and see the bowler moving that ball away... lifts all spirits

In reply to Raggs

Funny you should talk about slip catching.I just watched the highlights of an ODI between Australia and the West Indies.It was at the SCG and was rain affected and it was the first match that Mark Taylor captained and he took 4 catches at first slip including a blinder with his left hand to dismiss Keith Arthurton.It was a low scoring match with Australia making 101 and WI being bowled out for 87.
Mark Taylor was one of the best slip catchers in history.

In reply to Halliwell

We never remember the catches a player took, we always remember the one he dropped.

In reply to Raggs

Totally agreed...Hoops made fielding look easy and graceful. He was not just pretty but very safe.

In slips specifically you can add...IVA, Lloyd, Mark Waugh and Jayawardene they come to mind for making it look easy.

In reply to Oilah

Sir Gary was super in leg slip, or as fans call it, pick pocket.

In reply to openning

I beg to differ...Sir Gary was super everywhere

In reply to Oilah
My Mom would had send me to the corner, for adding the GOAT, to any cricket thread.
He was super.

Phil Sharpe the best I ever saw.

What about Bobby Simpson , easy

Richardson took some blinders to aid de 4 prong

Lloyd 1st
Richards 2nd
Harper 3rd
Garner at Gully

Roger Harper is the among the best that I have seen
Richardson was exceptional
Mark Taylor & Graeme Smith were probably the best at first slip.

I think that Roger Harper is the best that I have seen

In reply to Raggs

Of current players. Steve Smith is very good. Faf Du Plessis and Rahane as well.

Ponting, Mark Waugh, Lara, Mark Taylor from the 90s for sure.

In reply to CricketLuva4

What about Ben Stokes?

The greatest slip fieldman is Garry Sobers

Hooper,Taylor,Mark Waugh

In reply to Raggs

One persons name nobody has mentioned and during his brief first class and West Indies career was perhaps the best slips catcher, even better than Hooper, Lloyd, Richards and Sobers was Carlisle Best....pity his batting didn't carry him further.

Chris Jordan has some of the best reflexes I have seen in a cricketer. His catching in slips is incredible

In reply to openning

I'm not going to ask how old you are, let's just say your door has been opening a long time.

In reply to Dukes

Well said.

In reply to black
My mom died 2 years ago at 102 years, I am her six child.

Some had bucket hands which meant when it went it, it settled in deep and comfortable not coming out.

Ian Botham and Joel Garner were those kinda guys but the two for me who took the sharp and differcult chances with grace and poise were Windies Carl Hooper and Aussie Mark Waugh.
Elegantly done like their batting styles.
The likes of Lawernce Rowe and Marlon Smauels oozing elegance with the bat never took their catches in that style.

In reply to Raggs

As soon as I read that I thought of Kallis!!!!

[b]In reply to Dukes.

in that lineage. when it goes in it settles nicely into the nest.

In reply to Maispwi

You are right, Richardson took some incredible catches.

Back in the nineties CNN would show the play of the day. Usually it would highlight a major North American sport such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL or NASCAR.

One night, to my surprise, there was Ritchie diving full length to his right and taking a magnificent one handed catch in the slips. He made the CNN play of the day.

The best slip fielders I ever saw were all Aussies:
1) Bobby Simpson
2) Mark Taylor
3) Keith Miller.

I never saw Colin Bland but in my opinion,Roger Harper was the best all-round fielder I have ever seen. In India in 1983 he took slip catches off consecutive deliveries,I think off Malcom Marshall.His famous run out of Gooch at Lords is also quite special and the only person I have seen with a better pick up and throw into the wicketkeeper's gloves from the boundary was Keith Boyce.

In reply to Dukes

Sorry I didn't see Lloyd in his young cover days. Heard he was very special. Harper Hoops and Viv are the best West Indian allround fielders of my time. Sobie was a bit before my time

In reply to Oilah

Clive was very good in the covers until he got injured in Australia in 1972.There was a New Zealander named Graham Vivian who was electric in the field. Paul Sheahan was also excellent in the covers.

In reply to Fivestar

Have a look at the youtube highlights of the 1984 tour to Australia. There were some outstanding slip catches in that series. Lloyd took some difficult ones at first slip and Holding took some stunners in the Gully. But the slip catching of Richie Richardson was just breath taking. There was one he took when the batsman was flicking to the leg side and got a leading edge which flew in the slips area. With only nano seconds to react Richie dived and took a spectacular catch millimetres from the ground. Thats probably the best slip catch I have ever seen. Unlike most slip catches where the fielder is able to watch the ball come off the bat, Richie was blind sided but was still able to react quickly enough. He had previously taken brilliant catch to give Walsh his first test wicket.

Roger Harper is the best I have seen in any position. That run out of Gooch off his own bowling was simply incredible.

Kusal Mendis from Sri Lanka is also very good.

Devon Smith was a master in the slip. He took unbelievable catches there.

In reply to Raggs

Mark Waugh
Carl Hooper
Mark Taylor
Chris Jordan
Ben Stokes
Mahela Jawardena
Rahul Dravid

These are the best slippers I’ve seen. Chris Jordan is easily one of the best ever as well.

In reply to jballer84

the top 2 in your list are mines too.