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

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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