Joe Root added another remarkable achievement to his illustrious Test career by becoming only the second batter in history to score more than 14,000 runs in the longest format of the game. The England star reached the milestone during the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval on Thursday. Leading the side in the absence of regular captain Ben Stokes, Root entered an exclusive club that had previously featured only Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. The landmark came in Root’s 302nd Test innings. Although Tendulkar reached the same mark much faster, taking only 279 innings, Root’s feat further highlighted his consistency and longevity at the highest level. At 36, the right-hander continues to be one of England’s most dependable batters and remains among the finest players of his generation.Since making his Test debut against India in 2012, Root has built an outstanding record. He has maintained a career batting average of 50.77 and has amassed 41 centuries and 66 half-centuries. His ability to score runs regularly across different conditions has earned him a place among the greatest batters in Test cricket history.Widely regarded as one of the modern greats, Root’s latest achievement adds another milestone to a career already filled with memorable performances. His contribution has played a major role in England’s success over the last decade, and he continues to set new benchmarks with the bat.With 14,000 runs to his name, Root now stands second on the all-time list of highest run-scorers in Test cricket. Sachin Tendulkar remains at the top with 15,921 runs and was the first player to cross the 14,000-run mark.Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting occupies third place with 13,378 runs, while South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis is fourth with 13,289 runs. India great Rahul Dravid follows closely in fifth position with 13,288 runs.Root’s latest milestone places him in rare company and further strengthens his legacy as one of the greatest Test batters the game has ever seen.
