Joe Root has etched his name among the legends of cricket, surpassing Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to become the third-highest run-scorer in Test history. The milestone came on Day 3 of the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford, Manchester — a venue where Root has been nearly unstoppable.
The 34-year-old needed just 30 runs at the start of the day to overtake Dravid’s tally of 13,288 runs, and he achieved it with characteristic grace during the morning session. With this feat, Root now stands behind only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) and Ricky Ponting (13,378) on the all-time Test run charts. Root’s tally currently reads 13,292 runs in 157 Tests, including 37 centuries.
Root’s Fortress – Old Trafford
Old Trafford has always been special for Root. With over 1,000 Test runs at the venue, he is the first batter to achieve this milestone. Before the ongoing Test, Root had 978 runs at an impressive average of 65.20 at the ground, including a monumental double-century — 254 against Pakistan in 2016 — and seven half-centuries.
A Record-Breaking Career
Root’s remarkable consistency is reflected in his 103 scores of 50-plus, which is the joint-second highest by any batter in the format. His 37 hundreds place him fifth on the all-time list of most Test centuries. Earlier this year, he became the first Englishman to score 7,000 Test runs at home.
Dominance Against India
India has been one of Root’s favourite opponents. He is now the highest run-getter in India-England Tests, with 3,100-plus runs at an average of over 55 from 34 matches. His 11 centuries and 12 fifties against India put him on par with Steve Smith for the most hundreds against the side.
Root’s rise into the top three of Test run-scorers highlights his longevity, adaptability, and class. With several years of cricket still ahead of him, he could very well be on track to challenge Ricky Ponting’s tally, if not Sachin Tendulkar’s monumental record.
