Former England captain Michael Vaughan has picked the best slip fielder in the history of the game. The cricketer-turned-commentator’s response came after the Shubman Gill-led India team’s sloppy fielding performances in the recently concluded Test match against the England team, led by Ben Stokes.

India suffered a five-wicket defeat against England in the opening Test of the five-match series at Headingley, Leeds, on June 24. India’s poor fielding performance proved costly, as they dropped a total of eight catches across both innings.

Mark Waugh .. Not Even a Debate – Michael Vaughan

After a social media post asked fans to name the greatest slip fielder in cricket history, Michael Vaughan responded without hesitation. The former England captain Michael Vaughan placed Mark Waugh above names like Rahul Dravid, Graeme Smith, Mahela Jayawardene, Steve Smith, and Joe Root.

“Mark Waugh .. not even a debate,” Michael Vaughan wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Mark Waugh .. not even a debate https://t.co/FI3XSTcdFp

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 28, 2025

Yashasvi Jaiswal impressed with the bat in the first Test against England at Leeds, scoring a century in the first innings. However, his fielding performance drew criticism after he dropped multiple catches.

Notably, he missed chances off Harry Brook and Ollie Pope in England’s first innings. He also spilled a catch from Ben Duckett on 97, who went on to score 149 runs and lead England to a successful chase of 371.

Mark Waugh Took 181 Catches in his 128-Test Career

Mark Waugh is widely regarded as the greatest slip fielder in cricket history. He, known for his effortless catching technique, rarely let anything slip past him. The former cricketer made catching look simple, with former England captain Graham Gooch calling him “the greatest natural catcher.”

Waugh took 181 catches in his 128-Test career and held his position in the slips without change. Alongside fellow Australians Mark Taylor, Shane Warne, and Ricky Ponting, he formed one of the most reliable slip cordons in the game.

He hardly ever dropped any catches. The only notable lapse came in his final Test series against Pakistan, where he dropped three chances in quick succession. His near-flawless record cements his status as the finest slip fielder the game has seen.

Mark Waugh’s Batting in Tests and ODIs for Australia

Mark Waugh, renowned for his effortless strokeplay and elegant technique, was one of the most naturally gifted batters of his time. When in full flow, he made the game look remarkably simple.

However, Waugh was often seen as a player who didn’t fully realise his immense potential in Test cricket. He scored 8,029 runs in Tests at an average of 41.81, including 20 centuries, with a highest score of 153 not out.

Waugh made better use of his abilities in One-Day Internationals. He amassed 8,500 runs in 244 ODIs at an average of just under 40, displaying greater consistency and a more significant impact in the limited-overs format.

Also read: Rs 1968 crore not enough! Ravi Shastri demands bigger ICC Revenue share for India