Joe Root Breaks Ricky Ponting’s Feat To Set New World Record In Tests

Joe Root (R) & Ricky Ponting (Source: AFP Photos)

Joe Root kept on breaking new records in Tests, and it was Ricky Ponting who had to lose the top place in another red-ball cricket's staggering feat. Root left Ponting behind when England and Pakistan were up against each other in the second Test of the three-match series at Lord's, London.

Widely regarded as one of the most-decorated Test batters of all time, if not the most-decorated, Root has already played 89 Test matches at home. Of them, he had an opportunity to come to bat in 156 innings. 

There, he has 7594 runs at an average of 53.85, with 24 centuries and 35 half-centuries.

Root Dethrones Ricky Ponting As Highest Test Run-Scorer At Home

Root’s current run aggregate on home soil in Tests is the highest of all. Earlier, it was Ponting, who had 7578 runs in 154 innings at 56.97. He had 23 centuries and 38 half-centuries throughout his illustrious career, which began in 1995 and ended in 2012.

Meanwhile, Root, currently aged 35, began his Test career in 2013 and is still going strong.

Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis and Kumar Sangakkara, four of the finest ever in Tests, have been followed by Joe Root and Ricky Ponting in this chart.

[Most Test Runs At Home, As Of August 30, 2026]

Also Read: Most Fifties In Tests: Joe Root Equals Sachin Tendulkar With Batting Masterclass Vs Pakistan

Playing as England captain, Root made 24 off 37 balls before Mohammad Ali trapped him leg-before. It was Root’s seventh LBW in his last nine innings in the ongoing English summer, a feat he won’t be proud of.

Nevertheless, it was enough for him to break Ricky Ponting’s all-time Test record.

Where Does Joe Root Rank Among Test's Highest Run-Scorers?

As it becomes a topic of conversation more often than not, Root has been approaching to break Sachin Tendulkar’s most prestigious Test record for a while now. Tendulkar has 14208 runs in Tests, averaging 53.78 after 200 matches, in which he had 329 innings.

Root, on the other hand, has 14208 Test runs in 168 Tests. Of them, he has 307 innings to shine with the bat, averaging 50.38.

While Tendulkar had 51 centuries and 68 fifties in Tests, Root has 41 hundreds and 68 half-centuries so far in his red-ball career for England.

[Most Test Runs, As Of August 30, 2026]

Even though Root is around 1700 runs behind Tendulkar’s all-time Test run tally, cricket fans cannot rule out the possible outcome that England captain will eventually dethrone India’s GOAT as well, just like he did with Ponting for most Test runs at home.

Moreover, let’s not forget the fact that how much England play red-ball cricket every year. Thus, Root’s journey to becoming the highest Test run-getter of all time seems practically possible.

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