Joe Root Breaks All-Time Test Catches Record, Surpassing Steven Smith

England cricketer Joe Root became the outright leading non-wicketkeeper catcher in Test cricket history on August 21, 2026. Playing on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley, Root claimed his 219th Test catch, surpassing the previous record of 218 held by Australia’s Steven Smith.

What Happened

The record-breaking moment occurred during Pakistan’s second innings. England fast bowler Jofra Archer induced an edge from Pakistani opening batter Azan Awais, who was dismissed for 9 after Root completed the catch in the field. The dismissal moved Root to the top of the all-time catches table for non-wicketkeepers and prompted an immediate celebration from the crowd present at Headingley.

Smith had briefly drawn level with Root just days prior. During Day 2 of Australia’s first Test match against Bangladesh in Darwin, Smith collected three catches in an innings, taking his career total across 124 Tests to 218 and momentarily sharing the world record before Root’s milestone in Leeds.

Key Highlights

• New Record Holder: Joe Root leads all non-wicketkeepers in Test history with 219 catches.
• The Top Five: Following Root (219) and Smith (218), India’s Rahul Dravid sits in third position with 210 catches, Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene is fourth with 205, and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis is fifth with 200 catches.
• The Dismissal: The record catch dismissed Pakistan opener Azan Awais off the bowling of Jofra Archer.
• Batting Feat in the Same Test: On August 20, 2026, Root scored 66 runs off 112 balls, matching Sachin Tendulkar’s career tally of 68 Test half-centuries. Shivnarine Chanderpaul ranks next with 66 fifties, while Allan Border and Rahul Dravid each registered 63.
• Captaincy Statistic: Root also holds 42 fifty-plus scores as England Test captain, placing him fifth in that category behind Graeme Smith, who leads with 61.
• Match Status: Pakistan posted 171 in their first innings against five-wicket hauls from Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue. England replied with 409—powered by half-centuries from Jordan Cox (73), Harry Brook (91), Dan Lawrence (51), and Root (66)—creating a 238-run first-innings cushion.

Why This Matters

Root’s 219th catch alters the historic leaderboard for non-wicketkeepers in Test cricket, standing at the summit above accomplished fielders such as Smith, Dravid, Jayawardene, and Kallis. The match also underscored Root’s broader historical contributions, as his first-innings knock of 66 saw him join Tendulkar with 68 half-centuries in the format.

What to Watch Next

The first Test at Headingley continues with Pakistan batting in their second innings, attempting to wipe out England’s 238-run first-innings lead. Root remains active in the field as England looks to complete the Test match.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many catches has Joe Root taken in Test cricket?

Root has taken 219 catches as a non-wicketkeeper in Test cricket, making him the outright all-time record holder.

Whose record did Joe Root break?

Root broke the mark of 218 catches held by Australian cricketer Steven Smith, who had recently tied Root during a Test against Bangladesh in Darwin.

Who are the top five non-wicketkeeper catchers in Test history?

The top five positions are held by Joe Root (219), Steven Smith (218), Rahul Dravid (210), Mahela Jayawardene (205), and Jacques Kallis (200).

What batting milestone did Root achieve in the same match?

Root scored 66 runs in England’s first innings to reach 68 Test half-centuries, equaling the record tally held by Sachin Tendulkar.

Source: Crictracker