England skipper Joe Root has surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the highest run-scorer in home Test matches.
Published: August 29, 2026, 10:24 PM IST
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Joe Root Creates History at Lord’s(Photo: X)
England’s Joe Root has created historyOn Friday, he became the highest run-scorer in home Test matches, surpassing the long-standing record held by Australian great Ricky Ponting.
Root needed just 13 runs to overtake Ponting’s tally of 7,578 runsIn the ongoing second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, he scored four runs in the first innings before making 24 off 37 balls in the second innings on Friday to cross the mark.
This was Root’s 89th Test on home soilHe now has 7,591 runs in EnglandPonting had scored 7,578 runs in 92 Tests in Australia during his career.
Root moves to the top of the home Test runs chart
Captain Root now sits at the top of the list for the most Test runs scored in home matchesPonting is second, followed by Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene and Jacques Kallis.
Root was eventually dismissed lbw by Mohammad Ali in the second inningsHad he scored a half-century, he would also have broken Tendulkar’s record for the most half-centuries in Test cricket.
Both players are currently tied on 68 fiftiesRoot had equalled Tendulkar’s tally in the first Test against Pakistan at Leeds.
| Player | Country | Playing Year | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100s | 50s |
| Joe Root | England | 2013-2026 | 89 | 156 | 7,594 | 254 | 53.85 | 24 | 35 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1995-2012 | 92 | 154 | 7,578 | 257 | 56.97 | 23 | 38 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 1990-2013 | 94 | 153 | 7,216 | 217 | 52.67 | 22 | 32 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 1997-2013 | 81 | 129 | 7,167 | 374 | 59.72 | 23 | 34 |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 1995-2013 | 88 | 143 | 7,035 | 224 | 56.73 | 23 | 34 |
Root eyes more records in remaining home Test
Root has one more home Test remaining this season against PakistanIf he scores at least 72 runs in that match, he will become the first Englishman and only the sixth player overall to complete 12,000 international runs on home soil.
Also Read: Dewald Brevis smashes blazing six-filled 75 in SA’s win over Zimbabwe
Root currently has 11,928 international runs at home from 199 matchesSachin Tendulkar continues to hold the overall record with 14,192 runs in home international matches.
Joe Root continues to rewrite the record books
Even without a century so far this home season, Root continues to add to his remarkable record in England.
His latest achievement further underlines his consistency in home Tests and places him at the top of one of the most prestigious statistical lists in international cricket.
England vs Pakistan, 2nd Test Playing XI
England: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Ali Usman, Abdullah Shafique
