Renowned as a titan of modern Test cricket, Joe Root’s impact extends well beyond his relentless run-scoring and pursuit of Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time run tally. His reliability at the first slip cordon makes him one of the game's elite fielders. Slipping requires sharp reflexes and unwavering concentration, traits Root has consistently demonstrated by converting routine edges, reflex opportunities, and match-defining chances into crucial dismissals.

Joe Root now holds the record of taking most catches in Tests

During the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Root added another historic milestone to his collection. By clinging onto a first-slip catch off Abdullah Shafique to secure England’s opening breakthrough in the second innings, the former skipper surpassed Steve Smith to claim the world record for the most catches in Test history. That snag brought his total to 220 catches in 323 innings, cementing his legacy as a true multi-dimensional legend of the sport.

This ongoing battle for fielding supremacy between Joe Root and Steve Smith is becoming a classic, back-and-forth duel. Root previously claimed the crown after surpassing Rahul Dravid's longstanding mark, setting the stage for a long-term tussle with Smith for the top spot. With no active players realistically in position to challenge them, Tom Latham is the only other current cricketer past the 100-catch threshold, yet still far off the pace—this record will almost certainly remain a two-man race until both legends retire.

England on cusp of notching clean sweep against Pakistan

On the pitch, England are firmly in command and eyeing a 3-0 series sweep. After forcing Pakistan to follow on against a formidable first-innings total of 453, the hosts quickly reduced the visitors to 52/2. Still trailing by 268 runs, Pakistan face an immense uphill struggle to extend the match past the third day, barring an extraordinary and uncharacteristic turnaround.