Nottingham – On a quiet Thursday morning, Joe Root did something loud. With a simple nudge off his pads for a single, the former England captain etched his name in cricketing history — becoming the fastest batter ever to reach 13,000 runs in Test cricket.
No fireworks. No fist pumps. Just Root doing what he’s done for over a decade: timing a ball with elegance and walking into the record books without breaking a sweat.
13,000 and Counting – In Style
The landmark came during England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, when Root flicked Victor Nyauchi for a run in the 80th over, taking his personal score to 28.
He would eventually depart for 34 off 44 deliveries, caught by Blessing Muzarabani in the 83rd over. But by then, the job was already done — at least the historic one.
With that 28th run, Root overtook the legendary Jacques Kallis to become the fastest player to 13,000 Test runs, getting there in just 153 innings — a full six fewer than Kallis’s 159.
Fastest to 13,000 Test Runs — A League of Legends
Here’s how the top five stack up:
- Joe Root (England) – 153 innings
- Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 159 innings
- Rahul Dravid (India) – 160 innings
- Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 162 innings
- Sachin Tendulkar (England) – 163 innings
That’s some serious company. These names are not just cricketing legends — they’re the backbone of their respective Test teams for decades.
And now, Joe Root leads them all when it comes to the pace of scoring these mountainous runs.
The Only Active Batter on the List
What makes Root’s feat even more remarkable? He’s the only active player in the 13,000+ club.
Here’s where he stands among the all-time greats in terms of total Test runs:
- Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 15,921
- Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 13,378
- Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 13,289
- Rahul Dravid (India) – 13,288
- Joe Root (England) – 13,006 (and counting)
He may be the youngest member of this elite list, but don’t be surprised if he ends up topping it. With fitness on his side and form not slowing down anytime soon, Root looks set to chase down Tendulkar’s record — something that once felt almost untouchable.
More Than Just Numbers
What makes Root special isn’t just his stats — it’s how he scores his runs. He’s been the anchor in England’s batting line-up, often scoring tough runs when others falter. His adaptability across conditions and his mental strength have set him apart in the modern red-ball game.
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