Joe Root has broken yet another Test record in stunning fashion for England against India at Lord’s.
The star batsman is already England‘s top run scorer in two formats of the game, and he’s now claimed another milestone.
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Root has another moment of historyCredit: Getty
Root now has the most catches by a fielder in Test history after an incredible one-handed grab to remove Karun Nair.
Ben Stokes delivered the ball, and Nair edged it to the left of Root, and the former captain sprung into life, diving at full stretch to take a a ridiculous grab.
Root had moved moved level with Rahul Dravid for the most catches by a fielder at Headingley before a barren spell at Edgbaston deprived him of the record.
He is now on 211 catches, meaning is the most successful non-wicketkeeper in Test history and prove he is more than just a world-class batter.
A take off Josh Tongue’s bowling brought him level with Dravid on 210, and it was a classic Root grab.
Shardul Thakur swiped at a wide delivery, and it flew straight to him, who made no mistake in claiming the catch.
And after removing Nair, a new moment of history has been made in a career that is littered with them.
Root was already England’s record holder for non-wicketkeeper catches after surpassing Sir Alastair Cook some time ago, but he can soon be the all-time best.
Of course, he almost always plays as slip-fielder, meaning he is likely to get more chances to take catches.
However, it is very rare that he drops one and that is reflected in the statistics.
The 34-year-old started the first Test on 208 catches before he was there to snaffle up KL Rahul after he slashed at a Brydon Carse delivery before taking Thakur to move level with Dravid.
It should also be noted that Root has passed the Indian great after 13 years as a Test player.
Dravid managed his 210 in 16 years, so it’s even more impressive from the England star.
Root has also delivered with the bat in this Test.
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Root is an all-round elite playerCredit: Getty
Most Test catches for fielder
Joe Root – England – 211
Rahul Dravid – India – 210
Mahela Jayawardene – Sri Lanka – 205
Steve Smith – Australia – 200
Jacques Kallis – South Africa – 200
After Stokes won the toss and elected to bat, Root came in at the crease with Ollie Pope, and England were in a bit of trouble.
They were 44-2 but Root and Pope rebuilt before the latter fell.
Stokes joined Root at the crease, and after a delay for ladybugs, the Yorkshireman was left on 99 not out overnight.
Thankfully, the first ball of day two saw him divert a Jasprit Bumrah delivery to the boundary for a four to claim a 37th Test century, passing Steve Smith on the list.
Bumrah then bowled him for 104.
Jofra Archer took centre-stage for a bit with a wicket inside his first over back in Test cricket before Root claimed this impressive record.