IND vs ENG: Joe Root Becomes Leading Catch-Taker In Test Cricket History. England’s Joe Root added yet another milestone to his remarkable journey when he became the holder of the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Test cricket. With his 211th catch during Day 2 of the third Test against India at Lord’s, Root moved ahead of India’s Rahul Dravid (210) in terms of this record.
This catch came when Root, fielding in the slips, took a sharp one-handed catch to dismiss Karun Nair off the bowling of Ben Stokes. This moment personified Root’s qualities: anticipation, soft hands, and perfect technique. Notably, Root had equaled Dravid during the Headingley Test earlier in the series when he caught Shardul Thakur.
Root’s ascendance to the top of this list is a positive statement about his good hands and consistency. Not only has Root taken 211 catches, but he has done it in only 156 tests and has certainly displayed good fielding throughout his career. He has an average of over 0.71 catches per inning, which ranks him as one of the more effective fielders the game has seen.
The top five in the non-wicketkeeper Test catch scale are:
1. Joe Root (211)
2. Rahul Dravid (210)
3. Mahela Jayawardene (205)
4. Jacques Kallis (200)
5. Steve Smith (200)
Interestingly, Root’s fielding record stands alongside his phenomenal run-scoring form, having made his 37th Test hundred in the same match, further enhancing his reputation as one of the greats of modern cricket.
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As the series progresses, Root is now in a position to extend this new record and build a legacy with his batting and fielding.
