Joe Root Becomes the Fastest Player to Reach 13,000 Test Runs

England’s top-order maestro, Joe Root, etched his name in history by becoming the fastest batter to score 13,000 runs in Test cricket during Day 1 of the Zimbabwe vs England Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on May 22, 2025. Root reached the milestone in his 153rd match, surpassing Jacques Kallis, who previously held the record in 159 matches.

Root’s Record-Breaking Moment

Ahead of the match, the 34-year-old needed just 28 runs to cross the coveted landmark. He walked onto the crease after Zak Crawley’s stellar 124 off 171 balls, and calmly reached the milestone with a single off Victor Nyauchi in the 80th over, before eventually getting dismissed for 34 runs off 44 deliveries.

Root is England’s first-ever batter to breach the 13,000-run barrier, with Alastair Cook being the only other English player with 12,472 Test runs to his name.

Players to Score 13,000+ Test Runs

Root joins an elite club of only five players who have reached 13,000 Test runs:

• Sachin Tendulkar (India) – All-time highest Test run-scorer.
• Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – Previously held the fastest 13,000-run record.
• Ricky Ponting (Australia) – One of Australia’s finest batters.
• Rahul Dravid (India) – “The Wall” of Indian cricket.
• Joe Root (England) – The newest member of the club.

Root’s Test Cricket Journey

Since making his Test debut in 2012 against India in Nagpur, Root has been a pillar of England’s batting lineup, prioritizing red-ball cricket to establish himself as one of the greatest Test players of all time. His dominance against top cricketing nations is evident:

• Against India: 2,846 runs at an average of 58.08
• Against Australia: 2,428 runs at an average of 40.46