Joe Root equals Ricky Ponting’s unique record

16 December, 2024

On Day two of the third Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park, Root became only the second cricketer to score 1,500 Test runs in a calendar year on multiple occasions, equalling the record of former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

The right-hand batter entered the match needing 30 runs to achieve the milestone and accomplished the feat during the second session.

This marks another chapter in his extraordinary career, having previously scored 1,708 runs in 2021—a year in which he also led England from the front.

In 2024, he accumulated 1,502 runs in 17 matches, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest Test batters of the modern era. His consistency is comparable to Ponting, who reached the milestone in 2003 and 2005 with 1,503 and 1,544 runs, respectively.

Root joins a select group of players who have surpassed 1,500 runs in a single year, including legends such as Mohammad Yousuf, Viv Richards, Graeme Smith, Sachin Tendulkar and Michael Clarke.

Most Test Runs in a Calendar Year:

Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) – 1,788Viv Richards (West Indies) – 1,710Joe Root (England) – 1,708Graeme Smith (South Africa) – 1,656Michael Clarke (Australia) – 1,595Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 1,562Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 1,544Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 1,503Joe Root (England) – 1,502*

Root has been in red-hot form in 2024 and in his last Test of the year, he also tops the board as the leading run-scorer in the Test format this year.

Most Test Runs in 2024:

Joe Root (England) – 1,502*Yashasvi Jaiswal (India) – 1,304Ben Duckett (England) – 1,134Harry Brook (England) – 1,099Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka) – 1,049

The top-order batter is on the verge of another historic achievement. If he scores 84 more runs in the ongoing match, he will become the first English player and only the fifth cricketer in history to surpass 13,000 Test runs.

His pursuit of 13,000 runs also presents an opportunity to break Jacques Kallis’ record as the fastest player to reach this milestone in terms of matches.

Kallis achieved the feat in 159 Tests, while India’s Rahul Dravid took 160. With 12,916 runs in 152 matches, Root could surpass both legends.