Srinagar: England batting superstar Joe Root has shattered another record on Friday as he became the all-time leading catcher during the third Test against India at Lord’s.
Earlier on the morning of day two, Joe Root surpassed cricketing legends Rahul Dravid and Steve Smith after notching up his 37th century.
After scoring the ton on the first ball of the day, Root climbed an elite list of most Test centuries. By doing so, he went past Dravid and Steve Smith, both of whom had 36, and edged closer to Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, who has 38.
Most Centuries in Test Cricket
Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 51
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 45
Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 41
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 38
Joe Root (England) – 37*
Now, Root has surpassed the record of former India captain Rahul Dravid for taking the most catches in the longest form of the game.
The 34-year-old demonstrated excellent athleticism when he caught a one-hander stunner of well-set Karun Nair (40) in the first slip off Ben Stokes’ bowling in the 20th over.
Ben Stokes bowled it on the shorter side of a length, which squared up Karun Nair, and Root took it brilliantly to end Nair’s resistance at the home of cricket.
Most Catches For a Fielder in Tests
211* – Joe Root (296 inns)
210 – Rahul Dravid (301 inns)
205 – Mahela Jayawardene (270 inns)
200 – Steve Smith (225 inns)
200 – Jacques Kallis (315 inns)