Joe Root Shatters Records to Surpass Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis

Joe Root has achieved another milestone in his glorious career. During the one-off Test between England and Zimbabwe, Root went past the 13,000 Test run-mark, showing once again why he is considered one of the best batters of his generation. It is an impeccable achievement from the Englishman, who has been simply outstanding in the longest format of the game.
Scoring 13,000 runs in Test cricket is a rare and special achievement. It reflects a player’s high skill, strong focus, and consistent performance over many years at the top level. Only a few of the greatest batters in cricket history have reached this milestone, and Root is one of them. He became the fifth batter in the history of the game to score 13,000 Test runs.

Joe Root Test Record

Root achieved this milestone in the 80th over of England's first innings against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, bowled by the fast bowler Victor Nayuchi. The 34-year-old looked in great form during the short duration he was at the crease. However, he was dismissed for 34 off 44 balls by Blessing Muzarabani during the dying stages of the day.

Root was the only batter to miss out on a big score among all the top order batters. However, he became the fastest player to reach 13,000 runs in Test cricket in terms of matches played. He reached the milestone in his 153rd Test match and surpassed the legendary South African cricketer Jacques Kallis, who had reached the 13,000-run mark in Tests in 159 matches.

In terms of innings, Root is the fifth-fastest to reach this milestone. He has joined the elite list, which comprises the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis. While Root has scored his 13,00th Test run in his 279th innings, Tendulkar, who is on top of this list, reached the milestone in his 266th innings.

Fastest Batters To Reach 13000 Runs in Test Cricket

Five batters have scored more than 13,000 runs in Test cricket so far, and Root is the latest to join this elite list. While Root is the quickest to reach the milestone in terms of matches, he is the fifth-fastest in terms of Test innings. However, he is the first from the current generation to score more than 13,000 Test runs, which is a huge achievement in itself. Here is the list of players to score more than 13,000 runs in Tests:

5. Joe Root - 279 Innings

Joe Root is one of England’s greatest Test batters. He crossed the 13,000-run mark in his 279th innings during the only Test match against Zimbabwe, which started on May 22, 2025, at Trent Bridge. Root scored 34 runs in that innings to achieve the milestone.
He has played for England since 2012 and is known for his calm and smart batting. As of now, he has scored 36 centuries and has an average of 50.80 in Test cricket.

4. Rahul Dravid - 277 Innings

Rahul Dravid, also called “The Wall,” is one of India’s most respected Test players. He reached 13,000 runs on November 22, 2011. This was during a match against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Dravid made his Test debut on June 20, 1996. He took 160 matches and 277 innings to reach this iconic feat. He was known for his strong defense and patience at the crease.

3. Ricky Ponting – 275 Innings

Ricky Ponting was a technically sound batter and one of Australia’s best captains. He completed 13,000 Test runs on January 24, 2012, against India in Adelaide. Ponting played his first Test on December 8, 1995. It took him 162 matches and 275 innings to achieve this milestone. He was famous for his attacking style, quick footwork, and fearless attitude, while his pull shots and cover drives were a treat to watch.

2. Jacques Kallis - 269 Innings

South Africa’s greatest all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, scored 13,000 runs in Test cricket on January 2, 2013, during a match against New Zealand in Cape Town. Kallis made his debut on December 14, 1995. He reached this special number in 159 matches and 269 innings. He was known for his solid technique and ability to stay calm under pressure. Besides batting, he also took crucial wickets with his medium-pace bowling.

1. Sachin Tendulkar - 266 Innings

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest cricketers in the history of the game. He was the first and fastest player to score 13,000 runs in Test cricket. He reached the milestone on January 17, 2010, against Bangladesh in Chattogram. Tendulkar made his Test debut on November 15, 1989. He reached the milestone in 163 matches and 266 innings. The Master Blaster is still regarded as the Godfather of Cricket for his record-breaking career.

With the latest achievement, the battle of Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar has intensified. Root is quickly closing in on Tendulkar's record of most Test runs ever. While he is still some way behind, Root is just 34 and has enough time to go past Sachin. However, he will need to maintain his good form to get closer to the Master Blaster.