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Old Trafford Rises To Its Feet As Root Surpasses Ponting To Become 2nd Leading Run-Getter In Tests

Abhinav Tyagi

Joe Root Batting - (Source :@Johns/X.com)Joe Root Batting - (Source :@Johns/X.com)

In the ongoing fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford, Joe Root scripted history as he went past Ricky Ponting to become the second leading run-getter in Test cricket. Root, who smashed a century on Day 3 of the fourth Test, required 121 runs before the start of the match to go past former Australia captain.

Joe Root Goes Past Ponting

Prior to the Manchester Test, Root was the fifth leading run-getter in Test cricket. However, the 34-year-old went past Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting in the same innings to now be the second-leading run-getter in Test cricket. 

Root is only behind Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the record for most runs in Test cricket with 15921 runs in 200 matches. Here is the complete list of most Test runs. 

  • Sachin Tendulkar - 15921 runs in 329 innings
  • Joe Root - 13379* runs in 286 innings
  • Ricky Ponting - 13378 runs in 287 innings
  • Jacques Kallis - 13289 runs in 280 innings
  • Rahul Dravid - 13288 runs in 286 innings

Ponting Watches Root Shatter His Record

It was a special moment for Joe Root as he surpassed Ricky Ponting's run-tally in presence of the great man as the former Australia captain was in the commentary box when Root shattered his run-tally. 

Root has made it a habit to shatter legends' record amid their presence as he also went past Alastair Cook's century tally in Test cricket in his presence. 

Talking about Root, he has inched closer to Sachin Tendulkar's record as the 34-year-old now requires around 2500 more runs to pip the Master Blaster to become the leading run-getter in Test history. Further, Root also has 38 Test hundred and has joined Kumar Sangakkara for joint-fourth most Test hundreds.