England National Cricket Team modern-day batting great Joe Root has created history with his performance in the ongoing fourth Test match against the India National Cricket Team.
The fourth Test of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 between India and England is currently underway at Old Trafford in Manchester.
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Joe Root becomes the second-highest run-getter in Test history
Root has completely transformed himself since 2021 and switched on his beast mode. The right-hander has consistently scored runs across all conditions and established himself as one of the best Test batters of all time.
He started off the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a few decent scores, before bringing out his best in the Lord’s Test match, where he slammed a terrific ton.
Root bettered his performance in the following Test match in Manchester, which is currently underway. He has batted exceptionally well in England’s first innings and rewrote the history books.
In the same innings, Joe Root surpassed Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-getter in Test cricket history.
He rose to the No.2 spot after reaching the score of 120* and went past Ricky Ponting’s Test tally of 13378 runs. Root has now set his sights on Sachin Tendulkar, who is the leading run-getter in Test history with 15921 runs in his bag.
List of Top 10 Run-Getters in Test History After Joe Root Climbs to No. 2
| Player | Mat | Runs | Avg | 100 | 50 |
| SR Tendulkar (IND) | 200 | 15921 | 53.78 | 51 | 68 |
| JE Root (ENG) | 157 | 13380 | 51.26 | 38 | 66 |
| RT Ponting (AUS) | 168 | 13378 | 51.85 | 41 | 62 |
| JH Kallis (ICC/SA) | 166 | 13289 | 55.37 | 45 | 58 |
| R Dravid (ICC/IND) | 164 | 13288 | 52.31 | 36 | 63 |
| AN Cook (ENG) | 161 | 12472 | 45.35 | 33 | 57 |
| KC Sangakkara (SL) | 134 | 12400 | 57.4 | 38 | 52 |
| BC Lara (ICC/WI) | 131 | 11953 | 52.88 | 34 | 48 |
| S Chanderpaul (WI) | 164 | 11867 | 51.37 | 30 | 66 |
| DPMD Jayawardene (SL) | 149 | 11814 | 49.84 | 34 | 50 |
Congratulations Joe Root. Magnificent – Ricky Ponting
Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting were on-air doing commentary when Root became the second-highest run-getter in Test cricket history. The former India head coach said:
“There you go. Number 2 on the list is Joe Root. As he goes past the great Ricky Ponting. And is now only behind the great man Sachin Tendulkar.”
Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting congratulated Joe Root for breaking his record and labelled the moment as magnificent. He also stated that Root can go all the way to the top and surpass the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, to become the leading run-getter in Test cricket history. Ponting said:
“Congratulations Joe Root. Magnificent. Second on the table. 129 out. This crowd at the ground is very knowledgeable crowd here at Old Trafford. All stand as one. Magnificent moment in history. And as you said Ravi, just the one more to go now.
“About two and a half thousand runs behind. But the way that his career has gone over the last four or five years, there’s absolutely no reason why not.”
RICKY PONTING APPRECIATING JOE ROOT FOR CROSSING HIM ON COMMENTARY. 🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/DeTqq64LSE
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 25, 2025
The moment Ricky Ponting called Joe Root eclipsing his Test match runs tally in the Old Trafford commentary box! 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/u4NPNsD8m1
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 25, 2025
