Joe Root hits 200 catches mark in Tests, nears Rahul Dravid’s historic record

The 33-year-old England National Cricket Team batsman Joe Root has achieved a massive milestone as a fielder in the second Test of the three-match series against Sri Lanka National Cricket Team at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

Sri Lanka were set a target of 483 runs to chase to win the Lord's Test and level the series. To achieve the humongous score, Sri Lanka needed their openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka to bat well and get off to a great start.

However, they were not able to do that and Nishan Madushka fell in the 8th over itself. On the first ball of the over, Gus Atkinson bowled a back-of-a-length delivery and the ball took the outside edge of Madushka's bat to land into Root's hands at first slips. He was dismissed for 13 runs off 25 balls.

The catch of Madushka was his 199th in Test cricket and he didn't take too much time to make it 200.

Joe Root achieved the historic milestone on the last ball of the 14th over when he caught Pathum Nissanka off Olly Stone's delivery. The pacer bowled a back of a length delivery and Nissanka while trying to defend it, got the edge and the ball flew towards Root at first slip. Pathum Nissanka got out after scoring 14 runs off 24 balls, with 3 fours.

Meanwhile, Root became the first-ever England fielder to take 200 catches in the history of Test cricket. He is just 33 at the moment and there will be no surprise if he breaks Rahul Dravid's record for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Test cricket history.

🔥 200 CATCHES IN TEST CRICKET! 🔥

The records just keep on coming for Joe Root... pic.twitter.com/voS6MpnK8b

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 31, 2024

Most catches in Test cricket history by non-wicketkeepers/fielders:

Rahul Dravid (Ind/ICC) - 210

Mahela Jayawardene (SL) - 205

Jacques Kallis (SA/ICC) - 200

Joe Root (Eng) - 200

Ricky Ponting (Aus) - 196

He is just ticking off records this week - Michael Vaughan on Joe Root

Former England National Cricket Team captain Michael Vaughan was on-air when Root grabbed his 200th catch in Test and looking at this he stated that the star cricketer is just ticking off records in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka.

"Joe Root was in mid-air when he took the catch. It was a good ball from Olly Stone, it had that bit of extra bounce.200 Test match catches for Joe Root. He is just ticking off records this week," Michael Vaughan said, as quoted by BBC Test Match Special.

Michael Vaughan also opined that Root would become dangerous with the ball for Sri Lankan left-handers.

"I think Joe Root against the left-handers from the Nursery End is a real threat. I wonder if it is worth Dan Lawrence having a bowl. He has an unorthodox action, a bit different to Joe Root. It would be good to get him back in the game."

Meanwhile, earlier in the innings, Root smashed twin centuries to break Alastair Cook's all-time record for most Test tons by an Englishman in history. Root now has 34 Test tons to his name.

Also, he became the fourth batter in history to smash twin tons at the Lord's in Tests. He has been in tremendous form in Test cricket in the last few years as he has smashed 17 tons since 2021, which is as many as he smashed since his debut till 2021.

Root also completed 50 tons in international cricket, becoming 9th batter to achieve this feat. Looking at Root's ton, Nasser Hussain was left in awe, and speaking on Sky Sports, he said that the way he gets his runs is absolutely phenomenal.