Steve Smith sets Test catching record despite a 77% success rate

Steve Smith took three catches on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban.

One was a one-handed catch after South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne attempted a reverse sweep.

Smith now holds the Test record for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper, with 221.

But the data cited in the story says he has dropped 66 chances, giving him a 77% success rate.

That is below the figures given for several other leading fielders, including Graeme Smith, Kane Williamson and Michael Hussey.

Former Australia captain Alyssa Healy says Steve Smith can turn difficult chances into catches, even though he sometimes drops easy ones.

The figures have renewed debate about how statistics capture and value fielding skill.