Joe Root, the World No. 1 Test batter, added another glorious chapter to his illustrious career by scoring his 35th Test century on October 9 during the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan. The 33-year-old reached the milestone with a single on the second ball of the 63rd over in England’s first innings, further solidifying his place among the greatest Test cricketers.
Joe Root’s 35th century pushed him past legendary names like Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Younis Khan, who each have 34 Test centuries, to take the No. 6 spot on the list of most Test centuries. Root is now only behind cricket icons such as Sachin Tendulkar, who tops the chart with 51 Test centuries, Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38), and Rahul Dravid (36).
Top Test Centuries (All-Time)
- Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 51
- Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 45
- Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 41
- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 38
- Rahul Dravid (India) – 36
- Joe Root (England) – 35
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Joe Root’s century in this match also marked his fifth of 2024, tying him with Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis for the most Test hundreds this year. Other notable batters like Kane Williamson, Shubman Gill, and Ollie Pope have scored three each, but Root’s consistency has set him apart, making him the leading century-maker in 2024.
With only four players ahead of him on Test runs, can Joe Root surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s overall record?
Read here ➡️ https://t.co/14d4EMfdVU pic.twitter.com/Mr1UxDTQl4
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 9, 2024
In the same match, Joe Root surpassed former England captain Alastair Cook to become England’s all-time highest run-scorer in Test cricket. Cook had amassed 12,472 runs in 161 matches, a record that stood for years. Root, with 12,502 runs in just 147 matches, now leads England’s charts and is fifth in the global list of top run-scorers in Test cricket.
Top Run Scorers for England in Tests
- Joe Root – 12,502*
- Alastair Cook – 12,472
- Graham Gooch – 8,900
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Joe Root also became the first batter to cross 5,000 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC), a testament to his dominance in the format. With multiple records falling, Root’s contribution is vital as England looks to take control in the first Test and nullify Pakistan’s chances of securing a lead.
