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England and the West Indies are currently locking horns in the second ODI of their ongoing three-match series at Cardiff, and the contest is proving to be an entertaining run-fest. Batting first, West Indies posted a formidable total of 308 runs on the back of a superb century from Keacy Carty, his fourth ODI ton, which came in just his ninth international appearance. His composed knock held the innings together, giving the visitors a strong platform to challenge the hosts. In response, England have made steady progress in the chase and remain firmly in contention.
Joe Root breaks Eoin Morgan’s record for England in ODIs
However, beyond the match dynamics, the day has been marked by a significant moment in England’s cricketing history, as Joe Root etched his name into the record books by becoming the nation’s all-time leading run-scorer in One Day Internationals. In the course of England’s chase, their golden boy and modern-day batting great, Root, surpassed former captain Eoin Morgan’s long-standing record of 6,957 ODI runs. Root reached the milestone with his 42nd run in the innings, thus becoming the top run-getter for England in ODIs. It took him just 179 matches to accomplish this feat, significantly fewer than Morgan’s 225 outings, underlining his remarkable consistency and class over the years. Notably, no other England batter has even breached the 5,500-run mark in the format, highlighting Root’s dominance as a white-ball performer for the national team.
Root’s ODI legacy: Elite numbers and lasting impact
Root’s ODI journey began in 2013, and since then, he has evolved into a mainstay of England’s batting line-up across conditions and oppositions. His average of over 48 is the best among English batters with at least 3,000 runs, and his tally of 17 centuries stands unmatched in the nation’s ODI history. He has also registered 42 fifties and maintains a solid strike rate above 87. In 2025 alone, Root has enjoyed a resurgence in 50-over cricket, scoring 428 runs in eight ODIs at an average exceeding 53, including a century and three half-centuries. During England’s recent Champions Trophy campaign, where they endured a disappointing winless run, Root was one of the few bright spots, amassing 225 runs in just three innings at a staggering average of 75, including his first ODI century in six years.
England’s best in both formats as Root establishes dual dominance
With this latest feat, Root now stands as England’s all-time leading run-scorer in both ODIs and Test cricket. Last year, he surpassed Alastair Cook’s Test tally to top the list and has since expanded his dominance. In 153 Test matches, Root has amassed 13,006 runs at a superb average of 50.80, with 36 centuries and 65 fifties, figures that place him fifth on the all-time Test run-scorers’ list globally. In T20Is, while his appearances have been limited, he has still contributed 893 runs at an average of 35.72, including five fifties. Root’s ability to consistently deliver across formats has made him one of England’s greatest-ever cricketers and a key figure in their modern white-ball and red-ball revolutions.
