England’s Joe Root became the third-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history on Friday. During the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Root passed legends Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis. He scored 30 runs early on the third morning, surpassing Dravid’s 13,288 runs. Shortly after, Root crossed Kallis’ total of 13,289 runs to claim third place. Now, only Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar remain ahead of him.
Root has played 156 Test matches and scored 13,322 runs with an average of 50.80. He has hit 37 centuries and 66 half-centuries throughout his career. Root also holds England’s record for the most Test and one-day international runs. He broke Sir Alastair Cook’s England Test record in December 2024. Last month, he also became England’s top scorer in one-day internationals.
Although Root is close to Ricky Ponting’s 13,378 runs, he needs 120 more runs in this innings to move up. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar’s world record of 15,921 runs remains far ahead. Root’s steady rise shows his consistency and skill as a batsman. He is now recognized as one of England’s finest Test players.
Root debuted in Test cricket in 2012 and captained England from 2017 to 2022. He has been a vital part of England’s batting lineup for over a decade. This new milestone adds to his impressive cricket career. Root continues to chase even greater records as he plays.
The top five Test run-scorers are now Tendulkar, Ponting, Root, Kallis, and Dravid. Root’s achievement strengthens his legacy among cricket’s all-time greats. His journey inspires cricket fans worldwide.