England’s batting maestro Joe Root reached two monumental milestones on Day 3 of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Manchester. Root not only brought up his 38th Test century, equaling Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara to join fourth place in the all-time list of Test hundreds, but also surpassed Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to become the third-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history.
Root’s innings was a masterclass in patience, precision, and elegance, as he anchored England’s reply to India’s first innings total of 358. Coming in at a crucial stage after the dismissal of Zak Crawley, Root seamlessly blended caution with aggression. At lunch, he was unbeaten on 63, and as play resumed, he accelerated confidently, reaching his century with a flick through midwicket—a shot symbolic of his trademark style.
With this century, Root now stands level with Kumar Sangakkara’s 38 Test tons, placing him behind only Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), and Ricky Ponting (41). It also marked his eighth century against India, reinforcing his dominance over one of the strongest bowling attacks in world cricket.
Just as historic was Root’s rise in the all-time run charts. He started the innings needing only 34 runs to go past Rahul Dravid’s 13,288 and Jacques Kallis’ 13,289 Test runs. A well-placed single off Mohammed Siraj saw him leapfrog both legends, moving to 13,322 career runs. He now sits third, behind only Ricky Ponting (13,378) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).
Root achieved this feat in his 157th Test match, averaging over 51—testament to his consistency and longevity. His rise to this level has been characterized by steady improvement, adaptability across conditions, and an unrelenting hunger for runs. From his debut in 2012 to captaining England through turbulent transitions, Root has remained the backbone of England’s batting order.
England, backed by Root’s hundred and Ollie Pope’s fluent 70*, closed the day in a commanding position at 332/2, trailing India by just 26 runs. Earlier in the day, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett had laid the platform with a 166-run opening stand, but it was Root’s calm presence that ensured England’s momentum remained uninterrupted.
Root’s latest achievements have sparked admiration across the cricketing world. His ability to thrive under pressure and deliver in marquee matches further cements his status among the game’s greats. Teammates and former players praised his technical mastery and mental toughness—traits that have defined his career.
At 34, Root shows no signs of slowing down. With Ricky Ponting’s tally just 56 runs away, it is likely that Root could move into second place before the series concludes. And if he continues in this vein, the once-unreachable summit of Sachin Tendulkar’s 15,921 runs may well become a realistic goal.
For now, England celebrate a legend at his peak—Joe Root, the craftsman rewriting Test cricket history one century at a time.