5 best English silly point / short leg fielders of all time

When it comes to Test cricket, a team needs to take 20 wickets in order to win the game under normal circumstances and hence, the fielding positions used in this format of the game are far more attacking.

That is why close-in fielders at short leg and silly point are common positions in Test cricket. If the pitch has a bit of bounce, then fast bowlers are usually given a short leg, while on the other hand both silly point and short leg are given to spinners.

Needless to say, the fielders who are stationed at the positions and over the course of their cricketing history, England have produced plenty of top-class fielders, specialised at those positions. Here is a look at 5 of the best.

#5 James Taylor

The former middle-order batsman's career was cruelly cut short at the age of only 26 due to a heart condition. However, as long as he played for England, James Taylor was one of the finest short-leg fielders in the game and certainly among the best to have played for his country.

He played only 7 Test matches for England but his gifts as a short-leg fielder were beyond question and much of it was down to his reflexes, powers of anticipation and of course, the ability to complete a catch with either hand. On the other hand, the fact that he is a short man helped him a lot and he could get down easily as well.

The catch he took off Hashim Amla at short-leg during England's tour of South Africa in 2016 cemented his place as a player, who was supposed to make that position his own for years to come.

However, it was not to be an England and world cricket not only lost a talented batsman but potentially one of the game's great short-leg fielders.

#4 Ian Bell

As a batsman, right-hander Ian Bell was the epitome of elegance and silken stroke-play, which saw him become one of England's mainstay's during the noughties and beyond.

His retirement has definitely left a void in the English batting line-up but what is not often talked about is the fact that his presence at silly point is often missed by the team these days.

Bell could concentrate for long hours at silly point and more importantly, he had the necessary reflexes to go for a catch or get out of the way if a batsman hit a particularly well-timed shot.

Getting out of a well-hit shot is also one of the important skills of the silly point fielder and knowing when to stay in position is another. Bell could do this admirably and served England well at the position for many years.

#3 Alastair Cook

Right from the time that he first made his debut for England in 2006 and scored a century against India in his first game, left-hand opening batsman Alastair Cook's journey as one of the game's greatest was underway.

Cook also became one of England's best ever short-leg fielders during the early years of his career and continued to field there till he became the captain in 2012.

Now, like his prowess as a batsman, Cook isn't the most acrobatic or the most athletic of short-leg fielders, but he is efficient. If a chance came his way, then more often than not, Cook used to pouch it without much trouble.

His presence in short-leg reassured spinners like Swann and Panesar that if a chance was presented than the chances of it being dropped were minimal.

It is no wonder that he currently holds the record for the highest number of catches among English cricketers in Test cricket, with a total of 156 catches.

#2 Tony Greig

For many, the former England captain is best remembered by people of a certain age for his commentary but during his prime, Tony Greig was one of the world's top all-rounders and one of the finest silly point fielders.

Usually, a fielder who is 6 feet 5 inches tall is not supposed to be a particularly great fielder when it comes to close-in positions, but Greig was an incredible exception and became an absolute menace for batsmen when he fielded in that position.

Greig used to stand uncomfortably close to the batsman and that used to be particularly problematic when England's spin bowling ace Derek Underwood used to be in action.

Greig's reach, his agility and innate ability to take catches made him one of the best silly point fielders that England ever had. He took 87 catches in only 58 Tests.

#1 Brian Close

To understand the greatness of Brian Close as a cricketer and a short-leg fielder, it is important to first realise that when he fielded at the position, there were no helmets. He used to be in mortal danger every time he fielded at short-leg and according to many, Close was the very epitome of courage.

Whether it came to facing a bouncer barrage from Michael Holding at his peak without much protection towards the end of his career or fielding at short leg, Brian Close never took a backward step.

His Test career may have lasted only 22 Tests but it spanned around 27 years from 1949 to 1976 and he is still considered to be the best short-leg fielder to have ever played the game. Close did not fear the cricket ball and that enabled him to pull off outstanding catches while he stood at short-leg.

Speaking to Cricinfo, his former team-mate Ray Illingworth summed up his greatness as a fielder, "He was also very brave as a fielder at forward short leg in the days before players were like Michelin men with all their protection. It takes them ten minutes to get ready nowadays but Closey just wore a box, if anything at all."