England National Cricket Team batsman Joe Root, 33, has achieved a huge milestone as a fielder in the second Test of the three-match series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
Sri Lanka were aiming to post 483 runs to win the Lord’s Test and draw the series. To achieve that huge score, Sri Lanka needed their openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka to bat well and get off to a flying start.
However, they were unable to do so and Nishan Madushka fell in the eighth over. On the first ball of the over, Gus Atkinson bowled a medium-length delivery and the ball took the outside edge of Madushka’s bat to fall into the hands of Root at first slip. He was dismissed for 13 runs in 25 balls.
Madushka’s catch was her 199th in Test cricket and it didn’t take her too long to reach 200.
Joe Root achieved the historic feat on the last ball of the 14th over when he caught Pathum Nissanka off a delivery from Olly Stone. The pacer bowled a length delivery and Nissanka, while trying to defend it, took 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 England fielder to take 200 catches in Test cricket history. He is just 33 years old at the moment and it would not be a 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 keep coming for Joe Root… image.twitter.com/voS6MpnK8b
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 31, 2024
Most catches in Test cricket history by players other than wicket-keepers and fielders:
Rahul Dravid (Ind/ICC) – 210
Mahela Jayawardene (SL) – 205
Jacques Kallis (SA/ICC) – 200
Joe Root (English) – 200
Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 196
This week is just setting records – Michael Vaughan on Joe Root
Former England national cricket team captain Michael Vaughan was in the air when Root took his 200th Test catch and seeing this, he claimed that the star cricketer is simply setting records in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka.
“Joe Root was in the air when he caught the ball. It was a good ball from Olly Stone, it had a bit of extra bounce to it. Joe Root has 200 catches in Test matches. He is setting records this week,” Michael Vaughan was quoted as saying by BBC Test Match Special.
Michael Vaughan also opined that Root would become dangerous with the ball for Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinners.
“I think Joe Root is a real threat against the Nursery End left-handers. I wonder if it’s worth playing Dan Lawrence. He has an unconventional demeanour, a bit different to Joe Root. It would be nice to get him back in the game.”
Meanwhile, earlier in the innings, Root broke Alastair Cook’s all-time record for most Test tons by an Englishman in history. Root now has 34 Test tons to his name.
He also became only the fourth batsman in history to hit two tons at Lord’s in Tests. He has been in tremendous form in Test cricket in recent years as he has hit 17 tons since 2021, which is the same number he has hit since his debut till 2021.
Root also completed 50 tons in international cricket, becoming the ninth batsman to achieve this feat. Watching 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.
