Joe Root fired on all cylinders during Day 3 of England’s fourth Test vs India in 2025. The veteran cricketer leapfrogged batting greats like Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, and Ricky Ponting to feature high up current ranking among batsmen with the most Test runs. Individual contributions from Joe Root and other English batters ensured the hosts retired ahead by 186 runs.
Root now has his sights set on delivering a remarkable performance for his country as England seeks to make up for last year’s series defeat in India.
Joe Root Batting Success Puts India Test Team in Hot Water
Root’s success with the bat thrills England fans; however, his individual success spells significant trouble for the touring Indian Test team.
India currently trails in the ongoing series (2 – 1 after three games) and must come back from the impossible to achieve a tie. Root putting runs past the visiting side for fun now means Shubman Gill and his co-batters must deliver extraordinary performances to ensure India stay in the series.
“One More to Go” – Ponting Backs Root to Go Past Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Batting Record
Joe Root went right past Ricky Ponting’s record as England led a spirited charge against their visitors on Day 3 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford. England led India by 186 runs with their effort securing a 7-544 tally at stumps before dark.
Their commanding ascension to an advantageous position had everything to do with the batting brilliance from Joe Root. The veteran English batter took his runs tally in Tests to 13,409 in that encounter, and now looks set to challenge Sachin Tendulkar’s mammoth runs haul in long-format cricket.
Ponting says “No reason why” Root can’t go past Tendulkar’s record
Sachin ‘Master Blaster’ Tendulkar delivered a range of electrifying performances in Test cricket while bagging a record 15,921 runs as a batsman. Australian legendary batter Ricky Ponting charged Root to go past the Indian record-holder with the comment “Just one more to go”.
“The way his career has gone over the last five years, there’s absolutely no reason why not,” the veteran Ponting said during a commentary session in the game.
Ollie Pope Hails Root’s Test Runs Achievement
English cricket vice-captain Ollie Pope heaped praise on his compatriot and teammate for remarkable individual contributions with the bat. Pope suggests that Root is not a sucker for landmark achievements, but believes the cricket star will appreciate going past Tendulkar’s record before retiring from Tests:
“He’s not a big one for landmarks, but I think that’s a pretty cool one, second highest test runs is incredible. I’m sure he knew what the number was [that he needs] but he’s not a guy who wants to shout about it. The hunger he has, I wouldn’t be surprised if he chased him [Tendulkar’s record] down,” Pope added.
Major Joe Root Test Records
Joe Root has had one of Test cricket’s best careers so far. Some of his remarkable individuals in the format are below:
| Category | Record Description | Rank / Value |
| All‑Round: Batting, Bowling, Fielding | 1,000 runs, 50 wickets, 50 catches | Record |
| All‑Round: Batting & Fielding | 5,000 runs & 50 fielding dismissals | Record |
| Batting – Hundreds | Hundred in each innings of a match | Record |
| Hundred and a duck in a match | Record | |
| Hundred and a ninety in a match | Record | |
| Most hundreds in a series | 2nd – 4 | |
| Most hundreds against one team | 5th – 11 | |
| Most hundreds in a career | 5th – 37 | |
| Most double hundreds in a career | 7th – 6 | |
| Most hundreds in a calendar year | 6th – 6 | |
| Batting – Fifties | Fifties in consecutive matches | 1st – 12 |
| Most fifties in career | 2nd – 103 | |
| Fifties in consecutive innings | 7th – 6 | |
| Batting – Most Runs | Most runs in a calendar year | 3rd – 1,708 |
| Most career runs | 5th – 13,259 | |
| Most runs on a single ground | 6th – 2,166 | |
| Most runs in a match on the losing side | 14th – 248 | |
| Most runs in a series by a captain | 30th – 564 | |
| Most runs in a series | 21st – 737 | |
| Most runs in a match | 33rd – 325 | |
| Most runs in an innings by a captain | 42nd – 228 | |
| Batting – Averages & Strike Rates | Highest career batting average | 39th – 50.80 |
| Batting – Boundaries | Most fours in career | 8th – 1,419 |
| Batting – Fastest Career Runs | Fastest to 13,000 runs | 5th – 279 innings |
| Fastest to 12,000 runs | 6th – 261 innings | |
| Fastest to 11,000 runs | 8th – 238 innings | |
| Fastest to 10,000 runs | 11th – 218 innings | |
| Fielding – Most Catches | Most career catches | 1st – 211 |
| Most catches in a series | 25th – 11 | |
| Partnerships | Highest partnership for the fourth wicket | 1st – 454 |
| Highest partnership for the tenth wicket | 1st – 198 |
