Joe Root etched his name further into cricket history on Day 3 of the 4th Test between England and India at Old Trafford, Manchester, by slamming his 38th Test century, overtaking several all-time greats in the process. With this century, Root now stands as the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history, placing him behind only India’s Sachin Tendulkar.
Root began the day behind Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis, and with yet another masterclass against a quality Indian attack, he quickly surpassed both. But the moment of real significance came when he went past Ricky Ponting’s tally of 13,378 runs, reaching 13,379 runs* in Test cricket.
This knock marks a historic climb up the leaderboard and puts Tendulkar’s iconic 15,921-run mark within sight for the English maestro. Given Root’s consistent form and age (34), it’s no longer just speculation—it’s a realistic target.
Most Runs in Test Cricket
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 200 | 15,921 | 53.78 | 51 | 68 | 248* |
| Joe Root (ENG) | 157* | 13,379* | 51.25 | 38 | 66 | 262 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 168 | 13,378 | 51.85 | 41 | 62 | 257 |
| Jacques Kallis (SA/ICC) | 166 | 13,289 | 55.37 | 45 | 58 | 224 |
| Rahul Dravid (IND) | 164 | 13,288 | 52.31 | 36 | 63 | 270 |
| Alastair Cook (ENG) | 161 | 12,472 | 45.35 | 33 | 57 | 294 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 134 | 12,400 | 57.40 | 38 | 52 | 319 |
| Brian Lara (WI) | 131 | 11,953 | 52.88 | 34 | 48 | 400* |
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) | 164 | 11,867 | 51.37 | 30 | 66 | 203* |
| Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 149 | 11,814 | 49.84 | 34 | 50 | 374 |
Root’s form in this series has been pivotal for England, especially with the stakes so high in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where England currently leads 2-1. With this latest hundred, Root now has 38 centuries, placing him equal with Kumar Sangakkara, and just behind Ricky Ponting (41) and Sachin Tendulkar (51).
