Joe Root has etched his name further into Test cricket's record books, surpassing Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to become the third-highest run-scorer in the format's history. This achievement underscores Root's position among the pantheon of cricketing greats and solidifies his legacy as one of England's finest batsmen.
The seasoned English batter achieved this milestone during the ongoing Test series. He needed just 31 runs to pass Dravid and Kallis, a feat he accomplished in the first innings. Root's current Test run tally places him behind only Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs).
Root's journey to this landmark has been marked by consistent performance and a prolific run-scoring record. He made his Test debut in 2012 and has since become a mainstay of the England batting lineup. Known for his elegant strokeplay and ability to score runs in diverse conditions, Root has been a critical component of England's Test success over the past decade. He has also topped the ICC rankings for Test batsmen on nine occasions.
Before this achievement, Root already held the record for being England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket, having surpassed Alastair Cook. He has also served as the captain of the England Test side from 2017 to 2022, leading the team in 64 Test matches.
The top five run-scorers in Test cricket are Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs), Joe Root, Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs), and Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs). Root's rise to third place pushes Kallis and Dravid down to fourth and fifth, respectively.
While Root has overtaken Dravid and Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs remains a significant distance away. Root is behind Ponting, who is in second place with 13,378 runs. To surpass Tendulkar, Root would need to continue his prolific run-scoring form for several more years.
As of July 2025, Root has played 156 Test matches, scoring 13,259 runs at an average of 50.80. His highest score is 262. He has also scored 37 Test centuries and 66 half-centuries. In addition to his batting prowess, Root is also a useful bowler, with 73 Test wickets to his name.
Root is currently the leading run-scorer among all active batsmen. He is also the fastest to reach 10,000 Test runs in terms of time span. At 34 years old, Root likely has several years of Test cricket ahead of him, giving him ample opportunity to add to his already impressive record. His form in the ongoing series against India and recent scores, including a century, demonstrate his continuing prowess.
Root's achievement has been met with widespread acclaim from the cricketing world. His contributions to the game have been immense, and he continues to be an inspiration to aspiring cricketers worldwide. As he continues his Test career, cricket fans will be watching to see how many more records he can break and how high he can climb on the list of all-time Test run-scorers.
