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Smith surpasses Root with record 221st Test catch as non-wicketkeeper

Australian star Steve Smith set a new standard in Test cricket on Sunday, October 11, 2026, by claiming his 221st catch as a non-wicketkeeper. Achieving the feat during the first Test at Kingsmead, Smith surpassed England player Joe Root, who previously held the record with 220 catches.

Smith reached the milestone in his 126th Test match across 240 fielding innings, needing 43 fewer matches and 83 fewer innings than Root managed. His historic day included a sharp slip catch off Nathan Lyon to remove Temba Bavuma and a diving effort off Pat Cummins to dismiss David Bedingham for 49.

These two dismissals sparked a fierce bowling spell where Australia claimed three wickets for only 15 runs, reducing South Africa to 99 for 4. Behind Smith and Root on the all-time list are Rahul Dravid with 210 catches, Mahela Jayawardene with 205, Jacques Kallis with 200, and Ricky Ponting with 196.

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