Joe Root Makes History: First Englishman to Reach 13,000 Test Runs

Pakistan, May 25 — England’s renowned batsman Joe Root has made cricketing history by being the inaugural English player to reach 13,000 Test match runs. This significant achievement occurred during the current four-day Test encounter with Zimbabwe at Edgbaston on May 24, 2025.

Root is now only the fifth cricketer in history to cross the 13,000-run mark in Tests, joining legends Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid. He entered the match with 12,972 runs and achieved the milestone in style, needing just 28 runs to get there. Root reached the mark with his usual calm and class, showcasing the technique and mental strength that have defined his career.

Notably, Root achieved 13,000 Test match runs in only 153 games, which makes him the quickest player based on matches played. When considering innings, he accomplished this feat in his 279th inning, ranking him as the fifth-fastest in that category. Interestingly, Tendulkar holds the record for being faster at achieving this mark with 13,000 runs coming in his 266th inning.

This accomplishment is more than just an individual victory for Root; it’s also a source of great pride for English cricket, since no batsman from England has ever achieved this feat previously. This milestone underscores his reliability, flexibility, and unparalleled impact throughout the evolving period of the England Test team.

Already boasting 36 Test centuries under his belt, Root is now aiming for Tendulkar’s milestone of 15,921 runs—the leading total in Test cricket history. With England scheduled to compete in at least eight additional Tests in 2025, this presents Root with an excellent opportunity to close the gap significantly. Given his present condition and health, further records appear readily attainable as he moves forward into the coming months.

As Root embarks on his extraordinary journey, he solidifies his position amongst cricket’s legends and motivates a new wave of athletes and enthusiasts through his zeal, prowess, and dedication.