IND Vs ENG, 4th Test: Joe Root Surpasses Ricky Ponting To Become Second-Highest Run-Scorer

England’s star batter Joe Root scripted history yet again on Day 3 of the fourth Test against India in Manchester, notching up his 38th Test century. With this milestone, Root has equalled Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 38 hundreds, joining him at the joint-fourth spot on the list of most Test centuries.

Root, 34, brought up his hundred in style, clipping a delivery from Anshul Kamboj to the fine-leg boundary in the 96th over. His composed knock came off 168 balls and featured 11 boundaries.

This is Root’s second consecutive century, following his ton at Lord’s in the first innings of the previous Test. He now sits just behind Ricky Ponting (41), Jacques Kallis (45), and the all-time leader Sachin Tendulkar (51) for the most centuries in red-ball cricket.

Most Test Hundreds:

• Sachin Tendulkar – 51

• Jacques Kallis – 45

• Ricky Ponting – 41

• Kumar Sangakkara – 38

• Joe Root – 38*

Root Surpasses Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis in Test Runs

Root’s record-breaking day didn’t stop with his century. Earlier in the innings, he overtook Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis on the list of highest run-getters in Test cricket. He is now the third-highest run-scorer of all time, behind only Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar.

Most Runs in Test Cricket:

Joe Root etched his name further into cricketing history surpassing Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket. With a deft single guided down to deep backward point, Root moved to 13,379* runs, overtaking Ponting’s tally of 13,378.

The Manchester crowd rose to its feet, giving the World No. 1 Test batter a rousing reception for yet another monumental achievement. Now, only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, with 15,921 runs, stands ahead of Root on the all-time list — a testament to the Englishman’s remarkable consistency and greatness.

Sachin Tendulkar – 15,921 runs (329 innings)

Joe Root – 13, 379* runs (286 innings)

Ricky Ponting – 13,378 runs (287 innings)

Jacques Kallis – 13,289 runs (280 innings)

Rahul Dravid – 13,288 runs (286 innings)

At the time of writing, Root remains unbeaten on 120 anchoring England’s innings to 432/4, with the hosts holding a 74-run lead over India.