Joe Root is currently going through a dream run in Test cricket. Not just with his batting but also in other departments of the game, Root is shining bright. The latest development came during the England vs Pakistan 3rd Test match at Edgbaston.
With Root nearing the records of the great Sachin Tendulkar, he is also surpassing the modern day greats. In another such feat, he has now gone past Steve Smith in a major Test record.
Joe Root Overtakes Steve Smith: Check Record
During Day 2 of the 3rd Test against Pakistan, Root once again took a brilliant catch at 1st slip. It was a fifth-stump delivery from Ollie Robinson. Pakistan batter Abdullah Shafique tried to defend it but got a thick outside edge and Root took a brilliant low catch at slip.
With this effort, he has surpassed Steve Smith for the most catches in Test cricket. Below is the complete list of players with the most catches in Test cricket:
Most catches as a fielder in Tests:
-
Joe Root – 220*
Steven Smith – 219
Rahul Dravid – 210
M Jayawardene – 205
Jacques Kallis – 200
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Joe Root vs Steve Smith: Test comparison
This has always been one of the most discussed topics among the cricketing fraternity: who is the better Test batter? The numbers clearly back Joe Root with more than 14,200 runs and 41 centuries.
Meanwhile, Steve Smith also has more than 10,000 runs with an outstanding average of 56. He has had some of the most remarkable stints as a Test batter with the Ashes 2019 being one of the biggest highlights of his career.
Here is the complete breakdown of the Test stats of two of the greatest Test batters the game has ever seen.
|
Metric
|
Steve Smith
|
Joe Root
|
|
Matches
|
125
|
169
|
|
Innings
|
223
|
308
|
|
Runs
|
10,920
|
14,216
|
|
Balls Faced
|
20,237
|
24,714
|
|
Highest Score
|
239
|
262
|
|
Average
|
56.00
|
50.23
|
|
Strike Rate
|
53.97
|
57.52
|
|
Not Outs
|
28
|
25
|
|
Fours
|
1,190
|
1,528
|
|
Sixes
|
68
|
46
|
|
Ducks
|
11
|
15
|
|
50s
|
45
|
68
|
|
100s
|
37
|
41
|
|
200s
|
4
|
6
|
Joe Root clearly looks likely to win the comparison as a Test batter when it comes to statistics. Both players are late in their careers, with retirement likely to follow within the next 5 years.
Steve Smith has already won Test cricket’s ultimate prize, the World Test Championship (WTC), whereas England have been in the final once and Root would want to get his hands on it. With the England Test captaincy once again on his shoulders, he would love to finish the job.
Root earlier captained England from 2017 to 2022, leading the side in 64 Tests with 27 wins.
Meanwhile, Joe Root is also on the verge of becoming the greatest ever Test batter by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. Root is less than 2,000 runs away from that elite record and 11 centuries away. If that happens, it would definitely go down as one of the greatest moments in Test history.