• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Joe Root Equals Rahul Dravids Record For Most Catches By A Fielder In Test Cricket

Joe Root Equals Rahul Dravid's Record For Most Catches By A Fielder In Test Cricket

Abhinav Tyagi

Joe Root Catches - (Source :@TheBarmyArmy/X.com)Joe Root Catches - (Source :@TheBarmyArmy/X.com)

Joe Root and records are an inseparable pair, as the former England skipper continues to set new milestones with almost every outing on the field. While the 34-year-old failed to deliver anything remarkable with the bat in the first Test, he let his fielding do the talking.

Amid a poor day for England’s fielders, Root’s hands remained the safest. The right-handed batter took two catches in the match—one in each innings.

Joe Root Equals Rahul Dravid's Feat

Root’s second catch of the match was his 210th in Test cricket, equalling Rahul Dravid’s record for the most catches in Test history. Joe, playing his 154th Test, took ten fewer matches than Dravid to match the legendary Indian’s legacy. Here is the list of the top five cricketers with the most catches in Test cricket:

  • Joe Root (England) – 210*
  • Rahul Dravid (India/ICC) – 210
  • Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 205
  • Steve Smith (Australia) – 200
  • Jacques Kallis (South Africa/ICC) – 200

Before this match, Root already held the record for the most Test catches by an active cricketer. Now, he is just one catch away from becoming the sole holder of this prestigious record—a feat that is highly likely in the next match.

Steve Smith In Close Competition With Joe Root

The only threat to Joe Root's catching record can be posed by former Australia captain Steve Smith, who isn't far behind and has 200 catches to his name, just 10 fewer than Joe Root. 

Despite having one of the most safe hands in the world, Smith's catching skills has taken a hit as he dropped the most catches for Australia during 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.  The right-handed batter dropped seven catches and here is the complete list. 

  • 7 - Steve Smith
  • 2 - Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja
  • 1 - Pat Cummins, Nathan McSweeney, Nathan Lyon, Marnus Labuschagne

Had Smith taken those catches, he wouldn't be too far behind Joe Root.