England’s Joe Root has etched his name alongside India’s Rahul Dravid at the top of Test cricket’s list for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper.Root, who took a sharp catch to dismiss Shardul Thakur on Day 4 of the ongoing Headingley Test against India, claimed his 210th Test catch – pulling level with Dravid’s long-standing mark that has been the gold standard for close-in catching for over a decade. Dravid achieved his record in 301 innings over 164 matches with a catches per innings ratio of 0.697.Starting Day 1 of the first Test vs India with 208 catches, Root pulled closer to Dravid with a comfortable dismissal of KL Rahul, who was putting in a steady innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rahul was on 42 runs from 78 balls, when Root caught him behind.The former England captain, who debuted in 2012, has been a cornerstone of England’s slip cordon for close to a decade, rarely putting a chance down. His 210 catches have come in just 293 innings (154 matches), giving him a catch-per-innings ratio (0.716) that edges past Dravid’s 0.697 — a testament to Root’s consistency and safe hands in one of cricket’s most challenging positions.Dravid, fondly known as ‘The Wall’ for his batting solidity, also made his name as a master slip fielder, with his 210 catches amassed over 301 innings between 1996 and 2012. His record has been an elite benchmark for Test fielders for years — until Root joined him at the summit at Headingley, his home ground and the place where his cricket journey first took shape.Root’s achievement adds another layer to his remarkable legacy — already one of England’s finest batters and leaders, he now stands shoulder to shoulder with Dravid in the fielding record books too.
With India’s aggressive batting line-up, there’s every chance Root could move outright to No.1 before this Test series is over. Whether at Headingley or in matches to come at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval, Root’s safe hands have ensured he now shares an elite spot in Test history with one of the game’s most respected figures.
