Joe Root shatters Ponting's record to become second-highest run-getter in Tests

MANCHESTER: England batting maestro Joe Root etched his name in history on Friday, surpassing legends Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis all in one innings here at Old Trafford.

Following his record-breaking knock, the talismanic batter is now sitting in the second position in all-time leading run-scorers in Test cricket.

Joe Root resumed his innings with an overnight score of 11 in the fourth India-England Test and quickly surpassed records held by Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis within just two balls.

When he reached 30 runs, he played a shot to deep third during the fourth delivery of the 56th over, which allowed him to pass Dravid’s record and tie with Kallis.

Most Career Runs in Test Matches

Sachin Tendulkar (IND) – 15921 runs

Joe Root (ENG) – 13409*

Ricky Ponting (AUS) – 13378

Jacques Kallis (SA) – 13289

Rahul Dravid (IND) – 13288

Subsequently, on the first ball of the next over, he pushed the ball to the covers to topple Jacques Kallis’ record in Test cricket. In doing so, he became the third-highest run scorer in the longest form of the game.

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The batting maestro also scored his 38th century, putting his team into a dominant position. He went past Ricky Ponting when he steered India pacer Anshul Kamboj to deep point for a single to reach 120.

He was eventually caught after scoring a mammoth 150 runs off 248 balls. With his record-breaking innings, Root now trails only India’s Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time runs charts.

Following his record-breaking feat, the Old Trafford crowd gave him a standing ovation— a venue where Joe Root amassed 1000 runs, hence becoming the first batter to do so.

Joe Root’s monumental knock also moved up to second on the list of the most half-centuries in Test cricket. His knock pushed him past Ponting’s and Kallis, placing him second only to Tendulkar in terms of half-centuries.

Most 50-plus scores in Test cricket

119 – Sachin Tendulkar
104 – Joe Root
103 – Ricky Ponting
103 – Jacques Kallis
99 – Rahul Dravid

England finished the day in a commanding position at 544-7, leading ahead in the match by 186 runs with still two days’ play remaining. Ben Stokes is unbeaten on 77*, and Liam Dawson scored 21* off 52 balls.

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