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In a truly monumental display of batting prowess and enduring commitment to Test cricket, England‘s former captain and premier batter, Joe Root, has etched his name deeper into the annals of the game’s history during the thrilling fourth Test against India at Old Trafford.
Joe Root overtakes Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to create new records with dual milestones at Old Trafford
On Day 3 of the match, Root not only ascended to the unprecedented position of the third-highest run-scorer in Test history, surpassing legends like Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid, but also remarkably crossed 1,000 Test runs at his home ground, Old Trafford. These dual milestones underscore Root’s extraordinary consistency, his prolific scoring ability against the world’s best, and his unparalleled class in the longest format, reaffirming his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Joe Root’s relentless pursuit of batting excellence culminated in a historic moment as he remarkably leapfrogged two giants of the game, South Africa’s Kallis (13,289 runs) and India’s Dravid (13,288 runs), to claim the coveted third spot on the list of all-time Test run-scorers. This incredible feat was achieved with his 31st run in England’s second innings of the fourth Test against India in Manchester.
Currently playing his 157th Test, Root has now amassed a staggering over 13,290 Test runs at a formidable average exceeding 50, a testament to his consistent high-level performance over more than a decade. His remarkable tally of 37 centuries places him fifth globally among batters with the most Test tons, demonstrating his ability to convert starts into massive scores. Furthermore, his record of 103 scores of 50-plus in the format is the joint-second most for any batter, highlighting his prolific run-scoring capabilities.
Old Trafford fortress: A home ground masterclass and series-defining comeback
On the home front, Root recently etched his name as the first Englishman to register 7,000 Test runs in England, showcasing his unparalleled dominance on familiar pitches. His supremacy extends to the fiercely contested India-England Tests, where he recently became the first player to breach the 3,000-run mark against India.
In his 34 Tests against the subcontinent powerhouse, he now owns over 3,100 runs at an impressive average exceeding 55, including 11 tons and 12 fifties, which notably puts him on par with Australia’s Steve Smith for the most Test hundreds against India and firmly establishes him as the highest run-getter in this historic rivalry.
Adding another milestone to his already illustrious career, Root achieved a significant personal milestone at his home venue, Old Trafford, by completing 1,000 Test runs on Day 3 of the current match against India, reaching the feat with his 22nd run in the second innings. This makes him the undisputed highest run-scorer at the ground, with his pre-match tally of 978 runs at an incredible average of 65.20 including a century (a spectacular 254 against Pakistan in 2016, facing 406 balls) and seven half-centuries. No other batter has managed even 850 runs at Old Trafford, with former English great Denis Compton (818 runs) trailing significantly.
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