5 iconic bowler-fielder combinations

Several remarkable fast bowler-wicketkeeper combinations have gone down in cricketing history, but bowler-fielder combinations have been no less important to the sport - they have, on several occasions, been critical to the team's success.

Here is a look at the most memorable bowler-fielder combinations ever in Test cricket.

#5 Lance Gibbs-Garry Sobers (1961-1973), 39 catches

The West Indian off-spin bowler is one of the greatest to have played the game. He was the very first spin bowler to take 300 wickets in Test cricket. Gibbs ended his career with 309 wickets, and 39 of those fell to catches taken by Sir Garfield Sobers.

Over a period of 12 years, they combined remarkably well - Sobers was an especially outstanding fielder, and when Gibbs bowled, he usually fielded at slip or in the close-in positions.

#4 Harbhajan Singh-Rahul Dravid (1999-2011), 51 catches

Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Dravid

During a Test career that lasted 15 years, Rahul Dravid ended up with the record for the highest number of catches taken in Test cricket. It came as no surprise when he struck up an excellent partnership with one of India's most prolific bowlers, Harbhajan Singh.

Singh has taken a total of 417 wickets in Test cricket, and Dravid was most frequently his partner in crime. Dravid caught 51 balls off Harbhajan's bowling. He usually fielded at first slip or other positions close to the bat, which made it possible for him to take so many catches off Harbhajan.

#3 Shane Warne-Mark Taylor (1992-1998), 51 catches

Mark Taylor takes a superb catch off the bowling of Shane Warne

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor is regarded as one of the finest slip fielders to have ever played the game. Shane Warne was a maverick spin bowler, and under the guidance of Taylor, went on to become the best spinner in the world.

From 1992 to 1998, Taylor took 51 catches off Warne's bowling at first slip, some of which were pretty spectacular. The duo's status as an iconic combination is beyond question as most dismissals involved a combination of outstanding catching and brilliant bowling.

#2 Anil Kumble-Rahul Dravid (1996-2008), 55 catches

c Dravid b Kumble

A bulk of Dravid's record 210 catches in Test cricket came off the bowling of two of India's best bowlers - Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.

Kumble might have been more famous for his bowled and LBW prowess, but a majority of his wickets did come off catches. In all, Dravid took 55 catches off Kumble's bowling over a period of 12 years.

Fielding close to the bat when Kumble was bowling could not have been the easiest of tasks, but Dravid often made it look effortless.

#1 Muttiah Muralitharan-Mahela Jayawardene (1997-2010), 77 catches

Muttiah Muralitharan

During his illustrious career as one of the world's best spin bowlers, Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan was their greatest matchwinner. Mahela Jayawardene was one of the team's best batsman for the better part of a decade.

Jayawardene formed the most productive of bowler-fielder combinations with Muralitharan. In Test matches over 13 years, he took 77 catches off his bowling.

Jayawardene usually fielded in the close-in positions and at other times at first slip, and became the beneficiary of the several chances that were created by Muralitharan.