Joe Root breaks Steven Smith's record for most catches in Test cricket

Joe Root became the leading non-wicketkeeper catcher in Test cricket history on August 21, 2026, the third day of the first Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley. His 219th catch moved him past the 218 previously held by Steven Smith, confirming Root as the outright record holder.

The moment arrived during Pakistan's second innings. Root held a catch off Jofra Archer's bowling to dismiss opener Azan Awais, who had scored 9. That dismissal settled the record in Root's favour and drew an immediate reaction from the Headingley crowd.

Smith had drawn level with Root only days earlier. The Australian reached 218 catches on Day 2 of Australia's first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, taking three catches in that innings across 124 Tests to match what had been Root's shared mark at the time.

Root's tally of 219 places him at the top of the non-wicketkeeper standings in Test cricket. Rahul Dravid of India sits third with 210 catches. Mahela Jayawardene's career haul stands at 205, while Jacques Kallis finished with 200, rounding out the top five alongside Root and Dravid.

The record catch was not the only landmark Root reached during this match. A day earlier, on August 20, 2026, he scored 66 off 112 deliveries with 10 boundaries, a knock that equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record of 68 Test fifties. Shivnarine Chanderpaul is next on that list with 66 fifties, while Allan Border and Dravid each have 63. Root also holds 42 fifty-plus scores as England Test captain, placing him fifth on that list behind Graeme Smith, who leads with 61.

England built a substantial advantage before Root's record catch arrived. Pakistan were dismissed for 171 in their first innings, with Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each claiming five wickets. England then posted 409 in reply, establishing a first-innings lead of 238 runs.

Four England batters contributed half-centuries to that total. Jordan Cox made 73, Root added 66, Harry Brook struck 91 and Dan Lawrence contributed 51. That commanding lead set the platform for Pakistan's second innings, during which Root took the catch that moved him past Smith's mark and into the record books outright.