Joe Root breaks another batting record during the Manchester Test
The ongoing fourth Test between India and England provided a stage for Joe Root to continue his run into the annals of Test cricket. The senior England batter remains as impactful as ever for his team in the ongoing series. Batting on Day 3 of the Manchester Test, Joe Root overtook South Africa's Jacques Kallis and India's Wall, Rahul Dravid, in the Test run-scoring lists. The English batter is now recorded as the third-highest run-scorer in Test history.
Batting brilliantly in the ongoing Manchester Test, Joe Root inched closer to cricketing immortality. Playing in the first session of Day 3 during the fourth India vs England Test at Old Trafford, the former England captain quietly etched his name above two all-time greats. A single off Mohammed Siraj pushed him past Jacques Kallis, shortly after another single off Jasprit Bumrah helped him overtake Rahul Dravid.
It was between the 57th and 58th overs of England’s innings that Root leapfrogged both legends to claim third spot on the all-time Test run-scorers list. As the stadium announcer shared the news, a warm standing ovation echoed around Old Trafford. Root, ever composed and focused, showed little emotion, staying immersed in his innings in the Manchester Test.
Starting the day on 13,259 career runs, Root needed just 30 more to surpass Dravid (13,288) and Kallis (13,289). By the second session on Day 3, he had moved to 13,290*, positioning himself just behind Ricky Ponting (13,378) and the top run-getter, Sachin Tendulkar (15,921). Already England’s leading run-scorer in Tests, the 34-year-old continues to define consistency at the highest level. Earlier this year, he reached the 13,000-run milestone in record time, faster than anyone else in terms of Tests played, achieving it in just 153 matches.
The all-time leading run-scorers in Test cricket 📈
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2025
1️⃣ Tendulkar – 15,921
2️⃣ Ponting – 13,378
3️⃣ 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁 – 𝟭𝟯,𝟮𝟵𝟬 ⬆️
4️⃣ Kallis – 13,289
5️⃣ Dravid – 13,288
6️⃣ Cook – 12,472
7️⃣ Sangakkara – 12,400
8️⃣ Lara – 11,953
9️⃣ Chanderpaul – 11,867
🔟 Jayawardene – 11,814
Joe Root,… pic.twitter.com/m8OY90YCj6
With Ponting’s tally now well within sight, Root may well surpass the Australian during the remainder of the fourth India vs England match in Manchester. As for the towering total of Sachin Tendulkar, it still stands over 2,500 runs away. However, considering Root’s current form and fitness, it’s not out of the question. If the English star remains active and productive through 2027, he could mount a genuine pursuit of the record.
