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Joe Root sends stern warning to Sachin Tendulkar's world record, knocks down Ponting, Kallis, Dravid in one innings
Joe Root surpassed Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting in one innings to breathe down Sachin Tendulkar's neck in the all-time run-scorers list.
Taking giant steps towards all-time greatness, Joe Root on Friday became the second-highest run getter in the history of Test cricket, sending a strong signal of breaking Sachin Tendulkar's world record. 13 years after Ricky Ponting finished with 13378 runs, Root toppled the former Australia captain with a masterful century on Day 3 of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in Manchester. Root went past Ponting in the third ball of the 101st over of England's innings with a single off Anshul Kamboj.
Root got a lovely reception from the Old Trafford crowd, who went “Rooooooooot” to celebrate the occasion. What made the moment more special was Ponting's presence in the commentary box. The legendary Australia captain had predicted that Root might beat him on Friday before the start of the day's play.
In the first session, Root took a single off Mohammed Siraj's delivery outside the stump to go past legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis. This was after he had taken another single off Jasprit Bumrah in the previous over to beat Indian great Rahul Dravid.
Between the 57th and 58th over of England's first innings, Root toppled Dravid and Kallis to place himself firmly at third place in the all-time highest run scorers list. Root got a standing ovation from the crowd who got to know about Root's achievement through an announcement at Old Trafford. There was no real show of emotions from Root, who was completely focused on the job at hand.
13380* - Joe Root
13378 - Ricky Ponting
13289 - Jacques Kallis
13288 - Rahul Dravid
Root, who entered the innings on 13,259 Test runs, needed just 30 runs to leapfrog Kallis (13,289) and Dravid (13,288). He crossed both milestones with characteristic poise and then even went past Ricky Ponting (13,378), placing him only behind the all-time leader, Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).
The 34-year-old Yorkshireman, already England's highest-ever Test run-getter, continues to define his era with consistent brilliance. Root reached the 13,000-run mark earlier this year, becoming the fastest player in terms of matches played to do so — achieving the feat in just 153 Tests.
Joe Root's Test record:
Matches: 156
Innings: 279
Runs: 13,380*
Average: 51.26
Centuries: 38
Joe Root Breathing Down Ponting, Eyeing Tendulkar
While Tendulkar's towering 15,921 runs may still seem distant — Root is over 2,500 runs behind — his form and fitness suggest it’s not beyond the realm of possibility. If he maintains his current output and plays into 2027, Root could mount a serious challenge for the record.
A Legacy of Greatness
In surpassing Ponting, Kallis and Dravid, Root firmly cemented his place among Test cricket’s elite. All of them were renowned for their longevity and adaptability across conditions. That Root has now outstripped them statistically reflects not only his technical skill but also his mental resilience and hunger for runs.
England captain Ben Stokes praised Root after the day's play:
“We’ve run out of words to describe Joe. What he’s achieved is phenomenal — and the best part is, he’s far from done.”
