Joe Root set a new world record in Test cricket by taking his 211th catch as a non-wicketkeeper during the Lord’s Test against India.
The record-breaking moment came in the 21st over of India’s innings when Karun Nair edged a Ben Stokes delivery to the slips. Root dived to his left and completed a stunning one-handed catch.
Before this Test, Root was tied with former Indian captain Rahul Dravid at 210 catches. With this catch, Root now holds the sole record for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in the 148-year history of Test cricket.
Dravid now drops to second on the list, followed by Mahela Jayawardene (205), Steve Smith (200) and Jacques Kallis (200).
Root achieved this feat in just 156 Test matches, while Dravid needed 164 Tests for his 210 catches. Root averages 0.712 catches per innings, though several other players have a higher catches-per-innings ratio.
This is not Root’s only milestone in the Lord’s Test. Earlier in the match, he scored 104 runs, becoming the third batter to score a century in three consecutive innings at Lord’s.
He also reached his 37th Test hundred; placing him fifth in the all-time list for most Test centuries and equaled Steve Smith for the joint-most Test centuries (11) against India.
