Joe Root has been brilliant so far this year, and it is almost as if, week by week, new records are broken. After the ‘Player of the Summer’ award in England’s home season, he carried the form into the tour of Pakistan.
1000 Test Runs In A Calendar Year
Joe Root finally reached the crease on Day 2 of the first Test between England and Pakistan, making him the fifth man to hit 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year-with this being the fifth time he’s done it in Test cricket. Only Sachin Tendulkar has done it more, six times. Root becomes only the sixth player, and the first from England, to score 1000 runs in a calendar year, joining the elite group featuring Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and Alastair Cook, who have all successfully done it.
5000 Runs In WTC History
Keeping this record aside, Root’s name goes into history books as the first man to make 5,000 in the WTC, the 27th ball of the game marked this historic achievement. His consistency and ability to score will be evident since the beginning of WTC. The landmark comes in his 59th WTC match, where he boasts an impressive average of over 52 along with 16 centuries and 20 half-centuries and remains the highest run-scorer with a huge margin. Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne is at number two with 3,904 runs, proving what goes without saying that Root is the boss of the format. He is also the WTC record holder for most centuries.
Root ended the inaugural WTC cycle (2019-21) as the second-highest run-getter with 1,660 at an average of 47.42, which included three centuries and eight fifties. In the 2021-23 edition, he continued his great run with 1,915 runs in 22 Tests with eight centuries to top all the batters. Root consolidated his position at the top with his form in the ongoing 2023-25 cycle, having crossed over 1,400 runs in 17 Tests at an average well over 56 with five centuries and six fifties under his belt.
Joe Root’s Stellar Test Record
In all, Root has scored 12,400+ runs in 147 Tests for England, in which his average is above 50 and his centuries add up to 34 along with 64 fifties. Against Pakistan alone, he has over 1,150 runs in 16 Tests averaging 49, including seven fifties and a century. Root is now closer to replacing Alastair Cook (12,472 runs) and on the verge of becoming England’s all-time leading scorer in Test cricket.
While Pakistan took the first innings total to 556, the prospect of Root coming out all guns blazing for England to equalize against Pakistan and even the Test series makes his batting crucial for England. On the second day, the England team reached 96 for 1 as Root remained unbeaten on 32* with Zak Crawley being not out on 64*.
