Joe Root Reaches 12,000 Test Runs, Becoming the Second-Youngest

Joe Root, the England batter, joined an elite group of players by becoming the seventh batter in Test cricket history to reach 12,000 runs. Root achieved this milestone during the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston, reaching the landmark in his 261st innings.

Root reached the 12,000-run mark by scoring a four off Alzarri Joseph on the first ball after lunch on Day 2. He then paired with current England captain Ben Stokes to help rebuild England's innings after they were struggling at 54 for five, chasing West Indies' first-innings total of 282. During his innings, Root also recorded his 95th fifty-plus score in Test cricket, ranking him sixth among all batters for such scores.

Root is the second-youngest player to reach 12,000 Test runs at 33 years and 210 days, just behind Alastair Cook, who was 33 years and 13 days old when he reached the milestone. Root surpassed Brian Lara’s record of 11,953 runs during his innings. In terms of the number of innings required to reach this milestone, Root ranks near the bottom among the seven players, achieving it in 261 innings. Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara holds the record for the fastest to 12,000 runs, achieving it in 224 innings.

Sachin Tendulkar tops the list of players with the most Test runs, followed by Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Alastair Cook, Kumar Sangakkara, and Joe Root. Root's consistency and ability to perform under pressure have cemented his place among the greats of the game.

As Root continues his career, his performances will be closely watched as he seeks to climb further up the list of all-time run-scorers in Test cricket.