Joe Root's Historic Climb Up the Test Run-Scorers List
Every cricket fan knows the weight carried by names like Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting. But now, Joe Root's name sits right next to them. Root has officially become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, edging out Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and most recently, Ponting. Only the great Tendulkar now stands ahead of him when it comes to Test cricket runs.
Root’s climb didn’t just happen overnight. His hunger for runs has been impossible to ignore, and the numbers from recent seasons tell the story. He hammered a mammoth double century against Sri Lanka, reminding everyone he still has plenty left in the tank. But it was England’s 3-1 series victory over India in 2025 that really showed his dominance. Root racked up 518 runs in the series, leading his team from the front and making batting look way too easy at times.
One partnership especially stands out. Against India, with England seemingly in trouble, Root joined forces with James Anderson for a 198-run stand—the highest-ever 10th wicket partnership in Test history. That’s not a record you see broken every day, and it just adds to the legend. Then there’s his knack for showing up big in the pressure moments, like that gritty 149 at The Oval that pulled England to victory and earned him the Man of the Match award.
How Root Redefined Consistency in Test Cricket
Records in cricket often speak for themselves, but some need a little context to appreciate. Take Root’s tally of Test cricket runs scored at home—7,195 in England alone. Only Ricky Ponting’s 7,578 in Australia and Tendulkar’s overall career haul beat that. He’s not just shining on fast Australian pitches or spinning subcontinent surfaces. The consistency he’s shown at home puts him in truly elite company.
But 2025 wasn’t just about adding up big scores. Root broke new ground in another unexpected way. Facing India’s Ravindra Jadeja, he scored more runs against a single bowler than anyone else in Test history—7,195 runs over 37 innings, getting out to Jadeja only eight times. If you’re a bowler, those numbers make Root the stuff of nightmares.
Let’s not forget the Test where he scored 154 while rescuing England from a precarious 298-9 to an unlikely 496, flipping the match in his team’s favor. Again and again, Root found ways to drag England out of tough spots and push his numbers to new heights.
Root’s journey from England prospect to cricketing giant should quiet any remaining doubters. With only Tendulkar left to chase, every run Joe Root scores now is history in the making. English fans can only watch with pride—and probably a touch of disbelief—as their star batter continues to set new standards and rewrite the record books game after game.
