Cricket fans at Old Trafford witnessed a historic display as Joe Root surged past Australian legend Ricky Ponting. Root reached this milestone with a majestic knock against India, making him the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. The England ace now sits just behind Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time list.
Root began the third day on 11 runs, fifth in the run-scoring charts. By the afternoon, he overtook cricketing giants Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis. The crowd erupted when Root passed Ponting’s mark of 13,378 Test runs, moving himself into cricketing immortality. His innings, a graceful blend of classical strokes and relentless accumulation, reminded everyone why he is the backbone of English batting.
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England’s Domination Over India
England’s batters, led by Joe Root, piled on the runs to put India under immense pressure. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set the tone with a masterclass opening partnership, sending the Indian bowlers on a fruitless chase around the pitch.
Root’s arrival brought an air of inevitability. He notched up his 38th Test century with style, studded with 12 fours. His presence at the crease frustrated India’s attack, who found no way past his rock-solid technique. He soon powered on to reach 150, putting England in a commanding position. By the close of play, the hosts had built a lead of 186 runs after declaring at 544 for seven.
India have not conceded over 500 runs in an away Test since 2015. England’s onslaught at Old Trafford rewrote that statistic. Root’s dominance is especially evident against India, as this century marked his twelfth against the opposition more than any other batter in home conditions.
The Milestones Keep Coming
Joe Root’s relentless pursuit of records continued unabated throughout his innings. He equalled Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 38 Test hundreds. Only Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Sachin Tendulkar have scored more centuries in Test cricket. Root’s incredible feat also saw him break Don Bradman’s record for the most Test tons at home against a single opponent. He now boasts nine centuries against India in the UK.
Pundits and legends have showered praise on Root. Ricky Ponting, who saw his record tumble from the Sky Sports commentary box, expressed admiration for Root’s composure and shot selection. Ponting highlighted Root’s footwork, resilience, and classical batting, calling him “one of the finest batters in history”.
Root’s Place in Cricket’s Elite
The Joe Root narrative continues to captivate fans across the UK. His ascent from a modest Yorkshireman to cricketing royalty is marked by hard work, humility, and technical brilliance. As he closed on Tendulkar’s staggering 15,921 runs, the cricketing world buzzed with questions of whether Root could take the top spot.
Root’s Test journey has spanned more than 13 years and 157 matches. He holds the record for the most Test runs and centuries for England, as well as the highest number of wins as England captain. Now, Old Trafford joins Lord’s as the second venue where Root has scored over 1,000 Test runs—an achievement matched by only two other Englishmen.
England Set Sights on Series Victory
With Joe Root at the helm, England are poised for a memorable Test victory over India in Manchester. Their dominant batting display left the visitors struggling for answers. Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes added vital contributions, but the day belonged to Root, whose milestone-laden knock catapulted his side into the driver’s seat.
As the match heads into its final days, English supporters are optimistic about a series-clinching win. The conversation around Joe Root and his quest for cricketing greatness is set to continue as England eye even bigger conquests ahead.
The story of Joe Root has been one of steady achievement and breathtaking moments. After passing Ponting, the focus keyphrase “joe root” is now at the heart of every trending cricket conversation in the UK.