Joe Root Achieves Milestone as First England Batter with 100 Scores of 50 or More in Test Cricket
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Wellington, Dec 7 (NationPress) England batter Joe Root has made history as the first English player and only the fourth globally to achieve 100 scores of fifty or higher in Test cricket. Root accomplished this extraordinary feat during the second Test match against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve.
In his 151st Test appearance, Root reached this milestone with his 65th half-century off 76 balls during the third session of the second day's play. The 33-year-old, currently ranked as the World No. 1 Test batter, has an impressive record of 35 centuries and 65 fifties across 276 innings, amassing over 13,000 Test runs.
Root's achievement places him alongside cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting in the elite club of batters who have achieved over 100 scores of 50+ in Test cricket.
Tendulkar holds the all-time record for the most 50+ scores in Test cricket with 119, which includes 51 centuries and 68 fifties. Both Kallis and Ponting are tied at 103.
Root's historic performance comes after facing a challenging period. After an outstanding display against Pakistan in Multan earlier this year, where he scored 262 runs, Root struggled with a seven-innings streak without surpassing the 50-run mark.
In the first innings of the second Test, Root played a pivotal role, scoring a solid century that put England in a strong position. In the second innings, he demonstrated his determination by reaching his half-century and forming a vital 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket with the in-form Harry Brook. Root's innings provided stability as England aimed to set a daunting target for the home side.
His remarkable innings in Wellington also brought him closer to another notable achievement. With 1,417 Test runs in 2024, he requires just 83 more runs to become the second player in cricket history to score 1,500 Test runs in a calendar year on multiple occasions.
This record is currently held by Ricky Ponting, who accomplished this in 2003 and 2005. Root had previously crossed the 1,500-run threshold in 2021 during a remarkable run of form.
