Joe Root eyes major milestones in upcoming India Test series

He is just a few steps away from surpassing three of the game’s biggest legends

PHOTO: AFP

England’s star batter Joe Root is on the brink of breaking several historic records as he prepares for the highly anticipated five-match Test series against India, set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.

The 34-year-old recently reached the remarkable milestone of 13,000 Test runs during England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe. Now, Root is just a few steps away from surpassing three of the game’s biggest legends — Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, and Jacques Kallis — on the all-time Test run-scorers list.

Root, who has played 153 Test matches for England, has scored 13,006 runs at an average of 50.80. His record includes 36 centuries and 65 half-centuries, with a highest score of 262. He is already England’s leading run-scorer in Test cricket and currently sits fifth on the all-time list.

To move ahead, Root needs 373 runs to overtake Australia’s Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs), 283 runs to surpass India’s Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs), and 284 runs to go past South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs).

Root has also been one of the most successful batters against India. In 30 Tests against them, he has scored 2,846 runs at an outstanding average of 58.08, including 10 centuries and 11 fifties. He is also closing in on Dravid’s record for the highest batting average in matches between England and India.

Apart from individual matchups, Root is also on course to become the first batter in history to reach 6,000 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC). He currently leads the WTC run charts with 5,543 runs in 64 matches at an average of 51.80. His WTC record includes 18 centuries and 21 fifties from 117 innings.

During the previous WTC cycle, Root was the highest run-scorer with 1,968 runs in 22 matches at an average of 54.66, which included seven centuries. His memorable knock of 262 against Pakistan in Multan was a standout moment.

The five-match series between England and India will begin at Headingley, with the other matches scheduled at Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford, and The Oval.