Joe Root has surpassed Rahul Dravid on the list of the most catches by fielders in Test cricket, after taking a one-handed screamer against India at Lord's.
Root was tied on 210 Test catches, the most among non-wicketkeepers, ahead of the third England-India Test, and got to the landmark with a stunning grab to dismiss Karun Nair on Friday (July 11).
On the second ball of the 21st over, sent down by Ben Stokes, Nair edged a delivery that rose sharply, catching the shoulder of his bat. The ball flew between wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and first slip, but Root dived to his left and took the catch with his non-dominant hand, inches above the ground. The third umpire reviewed the catch and confirmed that Root’s fingers were underneath the ball, and India lost their second wicket.
It was Root’s 211th dismissal in his 156th Test match, giving him an average of 0.712 dismissals per innings. Dravid took 210 catches in 164 Tests during his career.
This was not the only instance when Root surpassed a record set by Dravid in the day. While batting, Root, who was on an overnight score of 99*, brought up his 37th Test ton with a boundary, going past Dravid (36) and Steve Smith. Only four batters are now above him on the all-time list: Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41) and Kumar Sangakkara (38).
Most catches by a fielder in Test cricket
| Player | Country | Matches | Dismissals |
| Joe Root | England | 156 | 211* |
| Rahul Dravid | India | 164 | 210 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 149 | 205 |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 166 | 200 |
| Steve Smith | Australia | 118 | 200 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 168 | 196 |
| Mark Waugh | Australia | 128 | 181 |
| Alastair Cook | England | 161 | 175 |
| Stephen Fleming | New Zealand | 111 | 171 |
| Graeme Smith | South Africa | 117 | 169 |
| Brian Lara | West Indies | 131 | 164 |
| Ross Taylor | New Zealand | 112 | 163 |
| Mark Taylor | Australia | 104 | 157 |
| Allan Border | Australia | 156 | 156 |
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