During England’s third Test match against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Joe Root achieved yet another incredible milestone in his Test cricket career: he became the most successful non-wicketkeeper fielder in Test history.
On Thursday, September 10, the England player made his 220th Test catch, surpassing Australia’s Steve Smith to become the most successful non-wicketkeeper in history. As England tightened their hold on the game, Root reached this milestone during Pakistan’s second innings.
When the time came, Pakistan had barely started their second innings. Abdullah Shafique was sent back to the pavilion for a three-ball duck when Root settled low at first slip to hold a catch off Ollie Robinson’s bowling. Root completed the task after Shafique pushed at the delivery without fully getting behind the ball’s line. Robinson’s 21st wicket of the series was also brought up by the dismissal.
Over the course of more than ten years of Test cricket for England, Root’s position at first slip has been crucial to his accumulation. Throughout the current series against Pakistan, his catch total increased steadily until the historic occasion came at Edgbaston.
With his 220th catch, Root is now clearly ahead of every other fielder in Test history. Rahul Dravid of India is in third place with 210, followed by Steve Smith of Australia with 219. Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka is ranked fourth with 205 catches, and Jacques Kallis of South Africa completes the top five with 200.
Root is far ahead of the next active player on the list, and his total will keep growing with every Test match. It seems unlikely that any other current player will be able to compete with him in the near future. Root has accumulated catches at a rate that has now overtaken every fielder who has played the game thanks to his length with the England team and his consistency at first slip.
The most recent addition to Root’s expanding list of Test accomplishments is the catching record. He also surpassed Steve Waugh in terms of Test appearances earlier in the same game, reaching 169 games and ranking third overall behind James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar. Root has once again demonstrated at Edgbaston that his contribution to England goes beyond his hitting. He currently holds the top spot on one of cricket’s most durable fielding records with his 220th Test catch.
