Joe Root Becomes 2nd Cricketer After Sachin Tendulkar To Reach 14,000 Runs in Tests, Achieves Feat During ENG vs NZ 2nd Test 2026
Former England captain Joe Root has etched his name further into cricket history, becoming only the second batsman in the history of the sport to score 14,000 runs in Test match cricket. The 35-year-old maestro crossed the monumental milestone during England's second Test against New Zealand, solidifying his status alongside Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar as the only two players to scale this statistical summit. England vs New Zealand Live Cricket Streaming Online in India, 2nd Test 2026, Day 4.
Joe Root Second After Sachin Tendulkar
Joe Root Scales 14,000 Test Runs
Root entered the high-stakes match against the Black Caps needing just 48 runs to reach the landmark figure. Batting with his signature composure against an elite New Zealand bowling attack, the Yorkshire batsman hit the milestone run during a fluid second-innings knock.
While Tendulkar remains the all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket with an astronomical 15,921 runs, Root's entry into the 14,000-run tier highlights a decade of unrivaled consistency. He crossed the line quicker than the Indian icon in terms of elapsed years from debut, highlighting the intense schedule and remarkable physical longevity Root has maintained since his debut in 2012. Glenn Phillips Scores Maiden Century in Test Cricket, Achieves Feat During ENG vs NZ 2nd Test 2026.
All-Time Highest Run-Scorers in Test History
| Position | Batsman | Country | Total Test Runs | Career Span |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 15,921 | 1989–2013 |
| 2 | Joe Root | England | 14,000+ | 2012–Present |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 13,378 | 1995–2012 |
| 4 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 13,289 | 1995–2013 |
| 5 | Rahul Dravid | India | 13,288 | 1996–2012 |
Root's achievement forms part of an astonishing late-career surge. Having recently equaled Australian great Ricky Ponting's tally of 41 Test centuries during the winter tour of Australia, the English stalwart has systematically overhauled legends like Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ponting on the all-time run-scorers list.
Cricket pundits now widely consider Tendulkar's previously untouchable record of 15,921 runs to be within Root's reach, provided the right-hander maintains his current physical fitness and scoring velocity over the next three seasons.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 20, 2026 07:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).