Joe Root Sets New Record as Fastest to 13,000 Test Runs in Cricket History

Joe Root Breaks 13,000 Test Runs Barrier in Record Time

Here’s a stat that sets the cricket world buzzing—Joe Root needed just 153 matches to reach a towering 13,000 runs in Test matches. He set the new record at Trent Bridge during England’s standalone Test against Zimbabwe on May 22, 2025, nudging aside cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid in terms of match count. Until now, “fastest to 13,000” was a club reserved for cricket’s old-timers, but Root just rewrote the limit for everyone. Out in the middle, Root managed 34 runs from 44 balls—enough to cross the iconic number before Blessing Muzarabani sent him back to the pavilion.

Put the numbers side by side, and Root’s achievement jumps out even more. Tendulkar, widely considered the game’s most famous batting machine, took 163 matches to hit 13,000. Ponting managed it in 162, Dravid in 160, and Kallis in 159. None of them wore England’s badge. Now, Root claims the honor for his country as the first English cricketer to cross this epic Test tally. There’s no shortcut here—just a relentless drive that started back in 2012, and it’s continued through Ashes drama, subcontinental dustbowls, and everything that Test cricket throws at a batter.

Consistency, Longevity, and a Unique Double Record

The other twist? While Root is the fastest by number of matches, he actually took the most innings—279—to get there, overtaking Dravid’s previous high mark of 277 Test innings. That might sound odd, but it’s a window into the unpredictability of international cricket. England’s Test calendar is famously packed, letting Root play more games in a shorter span compared to his peers from other countries.

Root’s record is as much about Test cricket consistency as it is about longevity. Through captaincy changes and team overhauls (remember, he led as Test captain from 2017 to 2022), Root offered England a backbone in the middle order. More than just churning out runs, he was the architect of some of England’s most memorable wins overseas. Whether tormenting bowlers in a crunch Ashes Test or batting through tough sessions on foreign soil, Root’s knack for crafting big innings stood out season after season.

Joining the 13,000 club places him alongside icons—Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis, Dravid. What separates Root is not just his technical adaptability but his ability to stay relevant over a decade that’s seen the Test game change fast, with aggressive new strategies and the rise of match-defining spinners and pacers alike. His more than 30 Test centuries, several key partnerships at both home and abroad, and crucial knocks in pressure situations tell the wider story of why this milestone matters.

Root’s latest feat isn’t just about stats—it paints a portrait of a modern great who’s defined himself while standing on the shoulders of cricketing giants, setting new records for English cricket along the way. What’s clear now is that whenever you talk about the pillars of Test batting, Joe Root’s name deserves to be right up there with the all-time greats.