Joe Root makes history at Edgbaston, surpassing Steve Smith to become the fielder with the most catches in Test cricket

England captain Joe Root (AP Photo) Joe Root scripted a new piece of Test history on Thursday, becoming the most successful fielder after taking his 220th catch during the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston.Root surpassed Australia’s Steve Smith, who held the record with 219 catches, to move to the top of the list for most catches not taken in Test cricket. The English batsman’s latest milestone came at a crucial moment when the hosts were firmly in control of the game.

The root makes the 220th catch look easy

The record catch came at the start of Pakistan’s second innings. Ollie Robinson found the edge of Abdullah Shafique’s bat with the ball flying low towards Root at first slip. Root was quick to react, stooping to take a crisp catch to send Shafique back for a three-ball duck.Robinson crossed the crease and directed a good length delivery into the fifth stump channel. Shafique tried to defend as he played inside the line, but the ball edged towards Root, who made the difficult low catch look remarkably straightforward.It was also Robinson’s 21st wicket of the series, adding to Pakistan’s growing problems with the bat.

Most catches as a fielder in Tests

• 220* – Joe Root
• 219 – Steven Smith
• 210 – Rahul Dravid
• 205 – M Jayawardene
• 200 – Jacques Kallis

England have a huge lead of 320 runs

Root’s record came shortly after England completed a commanding first innings performance when they were bowled out for 453 to take a massive 320-run lead over Pakistan.The visitors were dismissed for just 133 on the opening day and now face their last chance to post a competitive score in the series. Pakistan failed to pass 200 in any of their first three innings of the Test series and their second innings could hardly have started worse with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique falling to Ollie Robinson in the first to give England an immediate advantage.