India’s Ajinkya Rahane became the first fielder in Test cricket history to take eight catches in a match, achieving the unique feat on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Friday.
Rahane caught Rangana Herath at slip off Amit Mishra to enter the record books after going past five international players — Yajurvindra Singh (India), Greg Chappell (Australia), Hashan Tilakaratne (Sri Lanka), Stephen Flemimg (New Zealand) and Mathew Hayden (Australia), all of whom took 7 catches in a match.
Incidentally, Singh took 7 catches in a Test after Independence Day in 1977, while Rahane has done it on the eve of August 15.
Rahane was instrumental in sending three Sri Lankan batsmen back to the pavilion during the first innings before the Mumbai player took five catches in the second innings.
Englishman Wally Hammond, though, holds the record for most catches — 10 — in first-class cricket, having achieved the feat as a Gloucestershire fielder against Surrey in 1928.
England wicketkeeper Jack Russell — in 1995 — and South African glovesman AB de Villiers — in 2013 — have 11 dismissals each in a Test match.
