Joe Root Passes Steve Smith For Most Catches In Test Cricket History

LEEDS, England —

Joe Root became the most prolific fielder in Test cricket history on Friday, taking a catch that pushed him past Australia's Steve Smith on the all-time list, as England routed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test at Headingley.

Root took the catch, his 219th in Tests, at leg slip to dismiss Pakistan opener Azan Awais off the bowling of Jofra Archer, according to Yahoo Sports and Al Jazeera. Root had set the field himself just two deliveries earlier, moving to leg slip and adding a short leg before Archer produced a delivery that jagged into Awais, who edged it off the inside of the bat. Awais made 9 off 14 balls. The catch moved Root one clear of Smith, who had held 218 catches, for the most among Test cricket's non-wicketkeepers, Yahoo Sports reported.

A Dominant Return To The Captaincy

The win marked a triumphant start to Root's second stint as England's full-time Test captain, following New Zealand's series victory over England roughly eight weeks earlier that led to Ben Stokes stepping down and Brendon McCullum losing his red-ball coaching duties, according to Al Jazeera. England bowled Pakistan out for 135 in 37.3 overs after building a 238-run first-innings lead, with Mohammad Rizwan top-scoring for the tourists with 41. Josh Tongue finished with 3 for 43 in the innings and match figures of 8 for 89, a career best, while Ollie Robinson took 3 for 29 and finished with match figures of 8 for 80, also a personal best, Al Jazeera reported.

England had resumed the day at 366 for 8 and added 43 runs before being bowled out for 409, with Archer contributing 23 runs that included two fours and a six, according to Yahoo Sports. Pakistan's Khurram Shahzad took the last two England wickets but finished with expensive figures of 3 for 133.

Fleming Already Involved, Pakistan Faces Questions

Root told reporters that incoming head coach Stephen Fleming, who does not formally start the role until after the Pakistan series, had been in daily phone contact with him throughout the match, the Guardian reported. "It's been great to have him on the end of the phone," Root said, adding that Fleming is "very invested already in what we're trying to achieve." Root also praised Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence, who both scored half-centuries on their return to the lineup.

The victory extended England's winning streak at Headingley to seven straight Test matches, a run stretching back to 2018, though Root noted the ground will not host men's Test cricket again until 2029. For Pakistan, stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha said he was ready to hand the captaincy back to Babar Azam, who has been out with a finger injury, ahead of the second Test at Lord's, which starts Thursday, according to the Guardian.