Joe Root sets Test fielding record with catch at Headingley

Joe Root recorded his 219th Test catch at Headingley, edging past Steve Smith’s previous record of 218. The pivotal dismissal came when Root, having just asked Jofra Archer to add a leg-slip position, snagged a ball that Azan Awais attempted to glance to fine leg, sending it to the inside of the bat. Awais left the field for nine runs, and the catch cemented Root’s place at the top of the Test fielding leaderboard.

England’s innings yielded 409 runs, with Archer contributing 23 runs before running out of partners. Pakistan’s reply was limited to 171, giving England a commanding 238-run advantage heading into the second innings. Other notable performances included Khurram Shahzad’s two wickets for Pakistan and modest scores from Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.