Steve Smith etched his name into the Test record books on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh, equaling Joe Root’s world record for the most catches by a non-wicket-keeper in Test cricket. Smith started the match with 215 runs and completed the feat by scoring three wickets at second slip during Bangladesh’s first innings. He held down the edges of Najm Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das to reach 218 runs in just his 124th Test.
Smith matches Root’s record in 42 fewer Tests
Smith’s achievement stands out because of the speed with which he reached this milestone. The Australian has now taken 218 catches in 124 Tests, while the England team needed 166 Tests to reach the same tally. Smith also got there 89 runs ahead of Root.The two now share first place on the all-time list for most Test catches by a non-wicket-keeper.
| Rank | Fielder | Tests | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Smith (Australia) | 124 | 218 |
| 2 | Joe Root (England) | 166 | 218 |
| 3 | Rahul Dravid (IND) | 164 | 210 |
| 4 | Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 149 | 205 |
| 5 | Jacques Kallis (SA) | 166 | 200 |
Bangladesh has put Australia in trouble
Bangladesh moved to within six wickets of a historic Test win over Australia after the hosts ended the third day on 161/4, still 67 runs behind Bangladesh’s first innings total of 426.Hassan Mahmoud continued his dominance, as he took two wickets in the second half after taking 6/55 in the first half, bringing the match tally to eight. Mehidi Hasan Miraz also made a decisive impact, scoring 65 before dismissing Steve Smith for 44 to raise Australia’s hopes.Australian Josh Hazlewood took 6/89 and reached the 300 Test wicket mark, becoming the ninth Australian to achieve the feat.Cameron Green (43*) and Alex Carey (19*) remain unbeaten on stumps, but Australia face a huge task to overcome the deficit and set Bangladesh a competitive target. Bangladesh are now firmly in control and looking forward to one of the biggest Test wins in their history.
