Joe Root Rockets Past Cricket Greats in Test Run Rankings
Joe Root just sent the record books spinning. Batting for England during the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Root went on a run-scoring spree that’s left even seasoned cricket fans rubbing their eyes. He first eased past Rahul Dravid’s and Jacques Kallis’s totals, then kept going to leapfrog Ricky Ponting—it means Root is now the second-highest run-getter in Test cricket history, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar.
Going into this Test, Root had already edged past Dravid (13,288 runs) and Kallis (13,289 runs)—both giants of the game who defined batting resilience in their eras. Then he wound up surpassing Ponting, who retired on 13,378 runs, showing how Root just keeps finding new gears. As lunch arrived, Root stood tall on 63 not out, England at a healthy 332 for 2 and only 26 runs behind India’s first-innings total. At age 34, and with his consistency, Root’s not just breaking records—he’s rewriting the script on what’s possible for a modern Test cricketer.
Chasing Down Tendulkar’s Mammoth Record
The number to chase is 15,921—that’s how many runs Sachin Tendulkar piled up before he hung up his boots. Root, who has moved well past 13,379, is suddenly the only active batter with a real shot at the "Little Master’s" all-time Test runs record. Ricky Ponting, who watched from the commentary box, had nothing but praise for Root’s elegance, patience, and hunger for big scores. Ponting himself said Root’s form and fitness could see him topple Tendulkar’s summit.
But it’s not just totals. Root keeps stacking up the honors. He’s now scored more Test centuries against India on home turf (nine in all) than any other player. At Old Trafford, he also became the first cricketer to score 1,000 Test runs at the historic ground. For English fans, there’s added satisfaction: Root blew past Alastair Cook’s century count for England (a feat he achieved last year), carving out a place among cricket royalty.
What’s truly remarkable is how Root gets his runs. His innings at Old Trafford was a showcase of control—using quick hands to dispatch a Jasprit Bumrah leg-side ball for a four and keeping India’s attack at bay with sharp focus. Teammates and rivals both comment on his ability to make tough bowling look almost casual.
As the numbers mount, it’s hard not to wonder how much further Root will go. There’s every sign the England captain isn’t done dreaming—and those dreams now stretch all the way to the biggest record of them all.
