Root becomes 2nd highest run-scorer in Tests, only behind Sachin Tendulkar
Root started the day at number five and surpassed three legends to reach the number two spot
The 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between India and England has been a one-of-its-kind series so far, with new records being made in almost every innings. The latest player to enter this list is none other than former England captain Joe Root. Root, who already held the record for being England’s highest run-getter in Test cricket—surpassing Alastair Cook earlier this year—has now improved his position in the all-time run-scorers list and is ranked number two.
Root started the match at the number five spot with a total of 13,259 runs to his name. He needed 30 runs to surpass former India skipper Rahul Dravid at number four, and 31 runs to go past South African legend Jacques Kallis at number three. On the third day of the fourth Test in Manchester, Root crossed the 31-run mark in the 58th over of England's first innings with a single, taking his tally to 13,290 runs and making him the third-highest run-getter of all time in Test cricket.
The Englishman did not stop there and went on to take his score tally to 121 and even surpassed second spot Rickey Ponting to rank number second in the list.
However, Root still has a long way to go if he wants to become the all-time highest scorer, as he is still more than 2000 runs away from the top spot held by India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who has 15,921 Test runs to his name.
All-time highest run-getters in Test cricket
| Rank | Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 |
| 1 | SR Tendulkar (IND) | 1989–2013 | 200 | 329 | 15921 | 248* | 53.78 | 54.04 | 51 | 68 |
| 3 | JE Root (ENG) | 2012–2025* | 157 | 286 | 13380 | 262 | 50.84 | 57.35 | 38 | 66 |
| 2 | RT Ponting (AUS) | 1995–2012 | 168 | 287 | 13378 | 257 | 51.85 | 58.72 | 41 | 62 |
| 4 | JH Kallis (ICC/SA) | 1995–2013 | 166 | 280 | 13289 | 224 | 55.37 | 45.97 | 45 | 58 |
| 5 | R Dravid (IND) | 1996–2012 | 164 | 286 | 13288 | 270 | 52.31 | 42.51 | 36 | 63 |
| 6 | AN Cook (ENG) | 2006–2018 | 161 | 291 | 12472 | 294 | 45.35 | 46.95 | 33 | 57 |
| 7 | KC Sangakkara (SL) | 2000–2015 | 134 | 233 | 12400 | 319 | 57.4 | 54.19 | 38 | 52 |
| 8 | BC Lara (WI) | 1990–2006 | 131 | 232 | 11953 | 400* | 52.88 | 60.51 | 34 | 48 |
| 9 | S Chanderpaul (WI) | 1994–2015 | 164 | 280 | 11867 | 203* | 51.37 | 43.31 | 30 | 66 |
| 10 | DPMD Jayawardene (SL) | 1997–2014 | 149 | 252 | 11814 | 374 | 49.84 | 51.45 | 34 | 50 |
| 11 | AR Border (AUS) | 1978–1994 | 156 | 265 | 11174 | 205 | 50.56 | 41.09 | 27 | 63 |
| 12 | SR Waugh (AUS) | 1985–2004 | 168 | 260 | 10927 | 200 | 51.06 | 48.64 | 32 | 50 |
| 13 | SPD Smith (AUS) | 2010–2025* | 119 | 212 | 10477 | 239 | 56.02 | 53.68 | 36 | 43 |
| 14 | SM Gavaskar (IND) | 1971–1987 | 125 | 214 | 10122 | 236* | 51.12 | 43.35 | 34 | 45 |
| 15 | Younis Khan (PAK) | 2000–2017 | 118 | 213 | 10099 | 313 | 52.05 | 52.12 | 34 | 33 |
| 16 | HM Amla (SA) | 2004–2019 | 124 | 215 | 9282 | 311* | 46.64 | 49.97 | 28 | 41 |
| 17 | KS Williamson (NZ) | 2010–2024 | 105 | 186 | 9276 | 251 | 54.88 | 51.78 | 33 | 37 |
| 18 | GC Smith (SA) | 2002–2014 | 117 | 205 | 9265 | 277 | 48.25 | 59.67 | 27 | 38 |
| 19 | V Kohli (IND) | 2011–2025* | 123 | 210 | 9230 | 254* | 46.85 | 55.57 | 30 | 31 |