Joe Root Becomes Test Cricket’s Second-Highest Run Scorer

England’s Joe Root has etched his name into cricketing history by moving into second place on the all-time Test run-scoring chart, surpassing Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, and Jacques Kallis. He now trails only Sachin Tendulkar, whose record of 15,921 runs remains intact. Root achieved this historic milestone during Day 3 of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, where he scored a majestic 150, marking his 38th Test century.

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Root crossed the 13,378-run mark, overtaking Ponting in both total runs and time taken, accomplishing it in fewer innings and 11 fewer matches than Ponting did.

His tally, now 13,409 runs, places him comfortably ahead of other cricketing greats such as Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Rahul Dravid (13,288), making him the fastest to surpass them in recent memory.

The Englishman has also improved his conversion rate; between 2021 and 2025, Root scored 21 centuries, converting more than half of his fifties, marking an improvement from earlier years.

He also became the first player in Old Trafford’s 168-year history to amass more than 1,000 Test runs at the ground, underlining his comfort and consistency at that ground.

Joe Root: Test Career Batting Statistics