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Former England skipper Joe Root became the second English batter to breach the 10,000 run-mark in Test cricket. Root achieved the feat in the Lord’s Test against New Zealand in the fourth innings. As he completed 10,000 Test runs, he also got to his 26th century in the format.
Records galore
Only former England opener Alastair Cook (12,472 runs) has more runs than Root. Coincidentally, Cook was also 31 years and 157 days old when he got to 10,000 Test runs.
While Root is not the fastest to the milestone, he is the first batter to score 10,000 runs within first 10 years of Test career. The 31-year-old made his Test debut in 2012 against India in Nagpur.
Ex-captain’s knock
Before the Lord's Test against the Kane Williamson-led side, he had 9,899 runs to his name. He scored just 11 runs in the first innings and contributed to the English collapse. However, he stood tall after the top-order failure and scored an unbeaten 115 to see England through on Day 4.
The Yorkshire-born batter finished the run chase with a boundary and helped England win their first Test after 10 months. Their last win was against India in Leeds in August 2021.
Leaving behind ‘Fab 4’
In January 2021, Root was the leading run-scorer in the current 'Fab 4' which includes Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Williamson. While Root had 7,923 runs and 17 half-centuries, Smith, Kohli and Williamson had less number of runs but more centuries.
Smith had 7,449 runs including 27 centuries, Kohli had 7,328 runs and 27 centuries and Williamson had 7,115 runs and 24 half-centuries. None of the three batters have been able to score a Test century during this period. Kohli and Smith have breached the 8,000-run mark but have a long way to the 10,000-run milestone.
Last year, Root was from successful as Test captain but scored 1,708 runs from 15 Tests at an average of 61 including six centuries and four half-centuries with a high score of 228 against India.
