Joe Root eyes major milestones against India during five-match Test series

England batting maestro Joe Root is on the verge of achieving multiple milestones during the five-match Test series against India, set to commence on 20 June at Leeds.

The star batter will be eyeing to move up to second in the list of the highest run getters in Test cricket, surpassing Australia legend Ricky Ponting, who has amassed 13,378 runs in 168 Tests at an average of 51.85 with 42 centuries.

Joe Root, who recently crossed the 13,000 run-mark in the one-off historic test against Zimbabwe, requires 373 runs to surpass Ponting. Moreover, he needs 282 runs to cross India legend Rahul Dravid, while 283 to South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis.

Top five run-scorers in Test cricket

• Sachin Tendulkar 15921 in Tests
• Ricky Ponting 13378 in 168  Tests
• Jacques Kallis 13289 in 166 Tests
• Rahul Dravid 13288 in 164 Tests
• Joe Root 13006* in 153 Tests

Apart from this, reaching this feat, Joe Root will also aim to surpass Rahul Dravid’s highest-ever batting average in India-England Tests.

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The highest run-getter for England in Tests, Root, was in sublime form in the previous ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, amassing 1968 runs in 22 Tests.

The right-handed batter’s runs came at a staggering average of 54.66, with seven tons and an equal number of half-centuries, including a mammoth career-best 262 against Pakistan in Multan.

Joe Root could also become the first-ever batter to score 6,000 runs in WTC history. Currently, he has 5,543 runs in 64 matches at an average of 51.80 centuries and 21 fifties in 117 innings.

India vs England Test Series Schedule:

• 1st Test: Friday, June 20, Leeds
• 2nd Test: Wednesday, July 2, Birmingham
• 3rd Test: Thursday, July 10, London
• 4th Test: Wednesday, July 23, Manchester
• 5th Test: Thursday, July 31, London

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