
Joe Root Creates WTC History, Becomes 1st Player To Achieve This MASSIVE Record
Playing his 69th Test, Root is the leading run-getter in WTC, having featured in all four editions of the tournament so far.
With 20 centuries and 22 half-centuries, Root averages over 52, and is followed by Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben Stokes and Travis Head in the top-five of the WTC charts.
Most Runs In World Test Championship
Batter Matches Runs
Joe Root 69* 6000*
Steve Smith 55 4278
Marnus Labuschagne 53 4225
Ben Stokes 57 3616
Travis Head 52 3300
Notably, the former England skipper has been on a milestone-achieving spree during the ongoing five-Test series against India. In Manchester, Root had overtaken Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-getter in Men's Tests.
The seasoned England batter slammed his 39th Test century in the ongoing Oval Test and jumped to the fourth spot in the tally for most centuries in the longest format of the game.
Most Hundreds In Test Cricket
51 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 45 - Jacques Kallis (SA) 41 - Ricky Ponting (AUS) 39 - Joe Root (ENG)*
38 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
The 34-year-old also has the most catches as an outfield player in the longest format, a tally he topped during the ongoing series against India. Root's form with the bat holds England in good stead as they continue to embark on a big chase against India with the five-Test series on the line.
Hosts England currently lead 2-1 in the five-match Test series, following memorable wins at Headingley and Lord's.

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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Acrimonious series? India and England players meet and greet to celebrate an intense summer
Acrimony followed the sensationally concluded India-England Test series at every juncture, but the fellowship of cricket suffering never got eroded. Battered, bruised bodies and satisfied souls of fighting cricketers from both the Indian and England teams assembled on Monday, to end the series on a note of mutual respect and bonhomie. A memorable series where banter got bruising but not brutal, received a calm debriefing as war wounds were bandaged. The English team invited the Indians over for the customary end-of-series tradition of after the 2-2 parity was reached. They might have been involved in fierce fights, not ceding an inch but once The Oval emptied out, it was scenes of camaraderie and asking after the well-being of the wounded. A team official told The Indian Express that while every Indian walked up to Chris Woakes who came to bat with a hand in a brace, admiring him for his courage, several English cricketers asked after how Rishabh Pant had been doing, given his broken toe. Both sides had given the world iconic images of broken warriors walking out to play their designated role, something that was appreciated most by the opposition. The meet and greet also saw India's young batsmen queue up and listen with wide attention to Joe Root talk about how his batting keeps getting better by the day. 'He was asked how he has sustained top form for so long and many things about his batting,' the team official narrated. English cricket, even when clubs or counties play, wraps up proceedings with both dressing rooms converging for a common limbering down of emotional intensity. And after battling for 25 days, the two teams ensured that all Day 5 wrinkles were neatly ironed out exchanging warm respect. The day's hero, and a rather popular figure even amongst opponents, Mohammed Siraj was the life of the after-party, and all controversies and grudges got buried with the final meet-up before the Indians flew out on Tuesday. The rivalry – though incidents keep cropping up – isn't particularly bitter to start with, and through the series, even as the world thought controversies would brim over, both sets of cricketers have professionally left events on the field. So even as Ben Stokes said nobody from either side was losing sleep over what was said, Prasidh Krishna who had a go at Root, clarified that the batsman was an ultimate legend, and no one could really hold onto any ill-will towards him. Similarly though Siraj's fiery eyes would light up several times in follow up, Root had maintained that his 'fake angriness', as hard as he tried, was never viewed as anything but a passionate performance by the English. India's mild mannered captain Shubman Gill isn't prone to trash talking anyway, and those like Yashasvi Jaiswal have even spent days picking the brains of Joe Root during the IPL gig at Rajasthan Royals. Gautam Gambhir and Brendon McCullum have both been massive figures at Kolkata Knight Riders, and the two teams though hosting some fiery characters, ensured they ended the memorable series on a note of friendship with a higher echelon of respect for the show they put up for the world. It was the next best thing to fairytale endings – 2-2, and two sets of happy cricketers who left it all out there and then enjoyed each other's company.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Yograj Singh's bombshell praise for Mohammed Siraj compares him to India's WC legend: ‘The way he bowled, he reminded…'
Former cricketer Yograj Singh was all praise for Indian paceman Mohammed Siraj after his lion-hearted effort helped India win the Oval Test. Siraj claimed a five-wicket haul, including the final wicket of Gus Atkinson, which sealed the win for India, and they drew the series 2-2. In the absence of Bumrah, Siraj once again stepped up on the big occasion and claimed four wickets in the first innings and then followed it up with a five-wicket haul to dismantle the English batting line-up. Mohammed Siraj picked a five-wicket haul in the second innings against England.(AP) On Day 5 of the final Test, England stood 35 runs short of gunning down the 374-run target, while India had to take our wickets to snatch the win from the jaws of defeat. Siraj and Prasidh Krishna's sweltering spells under the slight drizzle in London saw India rip through England's tail and pull the curtains down on the gruelling five-match affair on level terms at 2-2. Yograj was full of admiration for India's sensational performance. He likened Siraj's fiery spells to those of the great Kapil Dev, praising the pacer for evoking memories of the legendary captain's brilliance with the ball. The 67-year-old was equally impressed with Shubman Gill's composed leadership, noting that the young batter showed the poise and assurance of an experienced skipper despite it being his first overseas assignment at the helm. "The way our players have played, it was amazing to watch. The way Mohammed Siraj bowled, he reminded me of Kapil Dev. The captaincy of Shubman Gill was mature. It did not seem at all that he was a captain for the first time," Yograj told ANI. Siraj's self-belief powers India's fightback Meanwhile, reflecting on his performance, the pacer opened up about his mindset heading into the decisive day, sharing how a simple Google-searched motivational quote became his source of belief. From trusting his process to executing a disciplined plan, Siraj credited the team's collective fight and his own inner conviction for the memorable finish. 'To be honest, it feels amazing. From Day 1 everyone fought hard and the result is there to see. Very happy. The plan was to keep it simple and hit a consistent spot. Not try too much and if I can get wickets from there it's a bonus and build pressure. When I woke up today I had the belief that I could do it, I had the belief system. I took a photo from Google which read I can do it and put it as my wallpaper,' Siraj said after the match.
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First Post
4 hours ago
- First Post
Oval thriller proves Test cricket touches hearts in ways white-ball formats can't, but are administrators watching?
The thrilling Test match at The Oval was a reminder of why the format refuses to die. It connects with fans in a way white-ball cricket simply can't. Yes, survival in the modern era is difficult, but administrators must find a way to protect the crown jewel, not abandon it. read more The Test match at the Oval will remain etched in our memories for years and that's the power of Test cricket. Image: Reuters Just when the powers that be told us that Test cricket is on its deathbed, the unmatched intensity of the longest format in cricket has reared its head once again, like a nightmare refusing to go away. The culprits for scripting the latest blockbuster in Tests and probably the rudest reminder for the administrators were a couple of Indian bowlers – Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who bowled their hearts out, firing a young Team India to an improbable win in the fifth Test at The Oval against England. 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It was just some white noise. The crowd would've been better off buying tickets for The Hundred game, which starts on Tuesday. But it's never over till it's over in sports, more so in Test cricket. 51 deliveries were bowled thereon. 51 deliveries of pure drama dipped in extra stress and served with spicy playing conditions. Only 20 runs came in those eight-plus overs as Siraj and Prasidh helped cook one of the most memorable cricket encounters of all time. The last act – Siraj uprooting Gus Atkinson's off-stump as he set off for the 'Siuuu' celebration, and the crowd erupted on its feet. The comm box erupted, and so did a billion hearts. India felt every moment of the Oval triumph 🇮🇳👏#ENGvIND #INDvENG — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 4, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Grown men were allegedly crying, and legends were busy comparing the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy to the 2005 Ashes. Even if some of us were not a part of the above cohorts, we knew we had witnessed something special. Something remarkable that will stay in our memory for years to come. Scenes here at The Oval. Grown men are crying and cheering, there is screaming and applause. Names are being taken in vain. And that's just in the press box. — Lawrence Booth (@BoothCricket) August 4, 2025 What made it so memorable was the comeback from Team India. At 301/3 with a centurion in Harry Brook at the crease, partnered by Joe Root, in the 374-run chase, England were the clear favourites. They had the upper hand even when Jacob Bethell departed and made it 332/5, with England needing just 42 runs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But inspired by an explosive series and the possibility of making immortal memories, Indian bowlers found a late burst of energy and focus to upset the apple cart. The overcast conditions played their role, but that's Test cricket in a nutshell. It's the pinnacle of the game, not because it's played in plain white like Wimbledon or that you toil for five days more often than not to get a result, but because it mimics life so accurately. There will always be ups and downs, but life always allows us a chance at redemption. So does Test cricket. And if you seize it, the result becomes immortal. Just like the one at The Oval. Ask Karun Nair if you like. In December 2022, he pleaded for one more chance. That one chance came at Edgbaston, seven years after his last international appearance. He was dropped again in the fourth Test at Manchester, only to make another comeback at the Oval and score a fighting fifty, which probably laid the foundation for India's win. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dear cricket, give me one more chance.🤞🏽 — Karun Nair (@karun126) December 10, 2022 The entire series is littered with such stories. After being thrown into the deep sea as a replacement for now-retired Rohit Sharma and asked to captain a team without Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill spoke about leading by example with his bat. He ended the series as the highest run-getter with 754 runs in five matches. Every time England looked out of sorts, captain Ben Stokes would turn up and bowl an inspiring spell, changing the complexion of the game. At Lord's, he bowled two spells of 9.2 and 10 overs on Day 5, helping England take a 2-1 lead with an unexpected win. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Day 5 in Manchester, Stokes was at it again, bowling an eight-over spell through pain, breaking a vital partnership before being ruled out of the final Test. Ben Stokes' fighting spirit epitomised Test cricket's finest quality. Image: Reuters Where else will you get so much passion, aggression, defiance, combativeness, and resurgence all rolled into one game or one format? But it's proving to be insufficient to keep the format afloat amid the changing times and shifting demands. While India, England and Australia continue to play a healthy number of Test matches, mostly among themselves, the financially less privileged teams are fighting for game time. Test cricket heading towards a quick demise World Test champions South Africa, after all, don't play a home game till October 2026, and Sri Lanka will only play four Test matches in 2025. They may also not get a chance to play against India, England, or Australia soon, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly mulling a two-tier system of six teams each. A two-tier system will mean fewer Test matches and more games between the so-called 'Big Three'. Some would say that's not a bad thing, as an Oval-like miracle would still be possible, but here's the harsh truth: When teams and matches are reduced, the interest around the format and its financial feasibility would also nosedive. The gaps between series will extend, and slowly but steadily, the format will lose its fan following, relevance, and sponsors. Other factors like strangling the global talent pool by alienating lower-ranked nations, creating financial inequality, and chipping away at the game's global appeal would lead to a slow death, if not a quick choke. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thus, it's imperative that administrators don't short-change Test cricket in the name of growing the game. Yes, there are challenges like shrinking attention spans and the rise of franchise leagues. T20 cricket has emerged as a great vehicle for making the game truly global, but no white-ball contest has ever matched the standards Test cricket has set for itself. If some Test matches are boring, it's largely due to the gulf between teams created by the lack of competition against the best. Match conditions haven't helped either at times. But when they are momentous, the impact would last longer than any white-ball game. For the administrators, the message is clear: you don't discard a jewel just because the crown is broken. You mend the crown. Test cricket is that jewel in the cricketing crown, and it deserves to be preserved, not abandoned.