Joe Root Becomes Fastest to 13,000 Test Runs (by Matches) – Etches His Name in History
England’s modern-day maestro Joe Root added yet another golden chapter to his already illustrious Test career by becoming the fastest player to reach 13,000 runs in Test cricket (by matches) during Day 1 of the four-day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Root achieved the landmark in his 153rd Test match, surpassing South Africa’s Jacques Kallis, who had reached the milestone in his 159th match. Root needed 28 runs heading into the Test and got to the mark with a single off Victor Nyauchi in the 80th over of England’s innings on Thursday, May 22.
Fastest to 13,000 Test Runs (By Matches)
| Player | Matches |
|---|---|
| Joe Root (ENG) | 153 |
| Jacques Kallis (SA) | 159 |
| Rahul Dravid (IND) | 160 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 162 |
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 163 |
While Root tops the list by matches, he is the slowest to the milestone in terms of innings, reaching the mark in 279 innings.
Fastest to 13,000 Test Runs (By Innings)
| Player | Innings |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 266 |
| Jacques Kallis (SA) | 269 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 275 |
| Rahul Dravid (IND) | 277 |
| Joe Root (ENG) | 279* |
Root is the first Englishman and just the fifth player overall to cross 13,000 runs in Tests, joining a legendary club that includes Tendulkar, Ponting, Dravid, and Kallis.
Joe Root’s Test Record vs Opponents
| Opponent | Matches | Runs | Avg | HS | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 34 | 2428 | 40.46 | 180 | 4/18 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 98 | 24.50 | 56 | 0/1 |
| India | 30 | 2846 | 58.08 | 218 | 10/11 |
| Ireland | 2 | 89 | 29.66 | 56 | 0/1 |
| New Zealand | 21 | 1925 | 53.47 | 226 | 6/9 |
| Pakistan | 18 | 1487 | 53.10 | 262 | 2/7 |
| South Africa | 15 | 1210 | 46.53 | 190 | 2/9 |
| Sri Lanka | 13 | 1376 | 62.54 | 228 | 6/2 |
| West Indies | 17 | 1513 | 56.03 | 182* | 6/7 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 28* | – | 28* | 0/0 |
Since making his debut in 2012 in Nagpur, Root has proven himself across all conditions, and he holds the record for being the highest run-scorer in the World Test Championship (WTC) as well.
What’s Ahead for Root?
Root’s form will be vital as England gear up for a high-stakes five-match Test series against India, starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. The series will not only shape the current WTC cycle but also offer Root a shot at becoming:
- The second-highest run-scorer in Test history (behind Tendulkar).
- The first player to score 7000 runs in WTC history.
Joe Root’s journey from a promising Yorkshire lad to a modern-day Test legend is now stamped with a 13,000-run milestone – and he’s far from done.
