Joe Root surpasses legends to achieve major Test cricket milestone

Root achieved this landmark during the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston

PHOTO: AFP

England's Joe Root etched his name in the annals of cricket history, becoming only the seventh player to score 12,000 runs in Test matches. Root achieved this landmark during the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston.

The milestone came when Root reached 62 runs, smashing a four off Alzarri Joseph on the first ball after lunch on Day 2. Root, the former England captain, partnered with current skipper Ben Stokes to stabilize the innings with a crucial hundred-plus partnership for the sixth wicket. England had found themselves in a precarious position at 54 for five within 12 overs, chasing the West Indies' first-innings total of 282.

Root's innings saw him notch his 95th Test fifty-plus score, placing him sixth among all batters in this category. At 33 years and 210 days old, Root is the second youngest player to reach 12,000 Test runs, following fellow Englishman Alastair Cook. In contrast, former Indian captain Rahul Dravid holds the record as the oldest to achieve this milestone at 37 years and 339 days.

Moreover, Root surpassed West Indies legend Brian Lara’s total of 11,953 runs during his innings.

Youngest Players to 12,000 Test Runs

33y 13d – Alastair Cook
33y 210d – Joe Root
35y 176d – Sachin Tendulkar
35y 214d – Ricky Ponting
36y 32d – Jacques Kallis
37y 68d – Kumar Sangakkara
37y 339d – Rahul Dravid

While Root is not the fastest to reach this landmark, he is positioned towards the bottom of the list, with only Cook behind him. Cook took 275 innings to achieve the feat, while Root reached it in his 261st innings. Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara holds the record for the fastest to 12,000 runs, doing so in just 224 innings.

Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting both reached their 12,000th run in their 247th innings.