Joe Root and Sachin Tendulkar
Joe Root added another remarkable achievement to his illustrious Test career when he became the second batsman in history to score more than 14,000 runs in the longest format of the game.
The England star reached the milestone during day four of the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval on Thursday. Root captained the team in the absence of regular skipper Ben Stokes, entering an exclusive club that previously included none other than Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.
The milestone came in Root’s 302nd Test innings. Although Tendulkar reached the same mark much faster, taking just 279 innings, Root’s feat also highlighted his consistency and longevity at the highest level. At 36 years of age, the right-hander remains one of England’s most dependable players and remains among the best players of his generation.Since making his Test debut against India in 2012, Root has built an impressive record. He maintained a career batting average of 50.77 and collected 41 centuries and 66 half-centuries. His ability to score regularly across varying conditions has earned him a place among the greatest batsmen in the history of Test cricket.
Widely regarded as one of the modern greats, Root’s latest achievement adds another milestone to a career already packed with memorable performances. His contribution has played a key role in England’s success over the past decade and he continues to set new standards with the bat.With 14,000 runs to his name, Root now stands second on the list of all-time highest run-scorers in Test cricket. Sachin Tendulkar is still at the top with 15,921 runs and was the first player to cross the 14,000-run mark.Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is third with 13,378 points, while South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis is fourth with 13,289 points. He is followed closely by Indian great Rahul Dravid at number five with 13,288 points.Root’s latest achievement puts him in rare company and cements his legacy as one of the greatest Test batsmen the game has ever seen.