The old saying about catches winning matches is one we have heard many times from the game’s experts. A remarkable catch not only energizes the team but also can alter the whole game.
One of the major leagues in World Cricket, The Big Bash League, recognized for its amazing batting, unbelievable bowling has also the legacy of being a great fielding league where some of the best fielders’ efforts have taken fielding to new heights.
This article unveils to you the fielders with the most catches in the history of BBL
1. Glenn Maxwell (88 catches)
Glenn Maxwell has taken the most catches in the BBL and is also the only player among the top five players who has not played for the Sixers. The prolific Australian all-rounder has taken 88 catches to his credit in BBL so far. Maxwell is one of the best all-rounders in T20 cricket in the whole world. His power to change the game’s scenario whether by bat or ball sometimes overshadows his performance on the field. He very rarely lets any catch go that comes to him and he is known for turning half-chances into successful catches with his excellent athleticism.
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Maxwell is also one of the five players who have taken four catches in a single innings in the BBL. He accomplished the rare feat in BBL 2017/18 while playing for the Melbourne Stars against the city rivals, the Renegades. Maxwell’s catches were responsible for the dismissals of Tim Ludeman, Dwayne Bravo, Mohammad Nabi, and Jack Wildermuth. The Australian all-rounder has equaled this record by taking three catches in a single BBL innings on three occasions. He is one of the two players along with Nic Maddinson who have managed to take three or more catches in a single innings four times.
2. Jordan Silk (85 catches)
Jordan Silk is the BBL’s second all-time catch taker. The seasoned player of Sydney Sixers has so far grabbed 85 catches in the Big Bash League. Silk with Abbott and Henriques has been leading the team in terms of fielding. These three are the perfect examples where catching has translated into success. Silk is no doubt among the best fielders in the tournament. It is very difficult for even the best fielders to catch while diving forwards or to their wrong side. But Silk, besides being very quick, makes it look very easy and has taken a number of catches while in the air. Besides his catches, the Sixers’ fielder makes countless saves on the boundary lines taking away vital runs from his opponents and giving them back to his team. Silk is one of the most unfortunate yet the best players who have ever played just one game for Australia in all formats.
Silk has twice taken three catches in an innings during the BBL. Both events occurred in BBL 2022/23 within a month of each other. The first time Silk grabbed three catches was against the Hobart Hurricanes. His catches got rid of the three most fearsome batters of the time, Matthew Wade, Tim David, and Asif Ali. The second instance was against the Thunder. He went on to take catches to see off Matthew Gikes, David Warner, and Ben Cutting..
3. Sean Abbott (69 catches)
Henriqes’ colleague from the Sixers takes the next place in the ranking. Sean Abbott who has caught 69 balls is positioned 3rd in the BBL catching tally. Abbott alongside his captain is a cricketer with three capabilities. His bowling activity is the reason why he is practically unnoticed as a lower-order batter and a fielder. The Australian left-arm pace bowler has been the highest wicket-taker in the BBL. He has been an indispensable factor in the success that the Sixers have experienced over the years. Contrary to his skipper, Abbott was mostly found at the back where he made significant catches often while running in after a batter’s miscue shot.
In the BBL, Abbott has already taken three catches in one innings on two occasions. The first one took place in the final game of BBL 2014/15. He caught crucial batters such as Shaun Marsh, Michael Klinger, and Ashton Turner. Nevertheless, Abbott was among the losers. In BBL 2017/18, he again made three catches in one inning against Sydney Thunder. His catches accounted for the wickets of Jos Buttler, Jason Sangha, and Chris Green respectively.
4. Dan Christian (69 catches)
Dan Christian is at position four for the most catches in the BBL. The batting all-rounder decided to go out of the tournament after catching 69 balls. He is again the one in his entire career who has played for the Sydney Sixers. Among the three teams, Christian’s performance in the final champions was the most. Christian took catches of different positions throughout the tournament and his catches were some of the entertaining ones of the tournament. His quickness made it possible to catch the balls while running backward which is recognized as one of the toughest catches for any fielder. He announced his retirement in the 2024/25 season when several players from Sydney Thunder got injured. But Christian was unable to make any addition of a catch to his already fantastic tally.
Christian is amongst the only five players ever to take four catches in a single BBL innings. He was the first fielder to achieve this record in BBL 2015/16. Christian was playing for Hobart Hurricanes, and his opponent was Brisbane Heat, a team he had already left behind. His four catches resulted in the dismissals of Jimmy Peirson, Chris Lynn, Ben Cutting, and James Hopes. The batting all-rounder has also taken three catches in a single innings once in the BBL.
5. Moises Henriques (68 catches)
Moises Henriques has the 5th most catches in the BBL. The all-rounder has taken 68 catches. Playing for the Sydney Sixers, Henriques is an experienced player in the Big Bash League. His experience has helped the Sixers in winning two titles and has made him a pretty successful captain in BBL. Henriques usually fielded inside the circle where he was not only a dynamic fielder but also a leader for his bowlers. He was stationed usually at short cover or mid-off, where he took most of his catches.
The BBL career of the captain of the Sixers has seen him take three catches in one innings on two occasions. The initial instance of this was in the BBL season 2015/16. During the match with the Hurricanes of Hobart, three were the catches secured by Henriques, and their owners were Tim Paine, Jonathan Wells, and Cameron Boyce. The second time he managed to catch three in one inning was in the Final of BBL 2020/21. The catches were made by the dismissed Colin Munro, Josh Inglis, and Andrew Tye.
