English cricket star Joe Root has reached a major milestone by becoming the first player from England—and the fastest in terms of matches played—to score 13,000 runs in Test cricket, the traditional format of the sport.
This feat places Root among an elite group of only five players in history to achieve this feat, joining legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.
Root reached the landmark on May 22 during a match between England and Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Even though he scored a modest 34 runs before getting out, the occasion marked a historic moment in his already illustrious career.
Notably, Root achieved the milestone in just 152 Test matches, breaking a 12-year-old record held by South African great Jacques Kallis. However, he took the most innings (278) to reach the mark—highlighting both his endurance and consistency over time.
Joe Root is widely regarded as one of the top cricket players of his generation and among the best ever to represent England. A key player in England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup victory, he was the team’s highest run-scorer during the tournament.
Root began playing Test cricket for England in 2012 and made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2013. He was also part of the national T20 team from 2012 to 2019. From 2017 to 2022, he served as captain of England’s Test team, leading in a record 64 matches. During his tenure, he recorded the most wins (27) and also the most losses (26) by an England Test captain.
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At 34 now, Root is still in excellent form and is widely seen as a strong contender to become the second-highest scorer in Test cricket history. Some even believe he could challenge the long-standing record held by Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. With his career showing no signs of slowing down, Root’s legacy continues to grow.
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Player Matches Taken Innings Taken Total Career Runs
Joe Root* 152 278 13,000*
J. Kallis 159 269 13,289
R. Dravid 160 277 13,888
R. Ponting 162 275 13,378
S. Tendulkar 163 266 15,921
