Joe Root has made his mark yet again, this time by achieving a unique record in the longest format of the game, as he becomes the 3rd most-capped player in Test cricket. The 35-year-old England Test captain has now made 169 appearances in the longest format, surpassing legendary Australian captains Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, who both played 168 Test matches.
Joe Root achieved this monumental feat in the 3rd and final Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston on Wednesday. Interestingly, he is one of only two active cricketers in the top 25 list of players with the most Test appearances. Australian veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon is in 15th place with 143 matches.
Currently, Sachin Tendulkar (200 Tests) and James Anderson (188 Tests) are the only players above Joe Root on the list of most appearances in Test cricket.
Joe Root is now chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in Test cricket (15,921 runs) and needs close to 1,700 runs to break the record. Overall, in 168 matches, Root has amassed 14,208 runs at an average of 50.38, including 41 centuries and 68 half-centuries.
Joe Root also holds the joint record for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Test cricket, with 219 catches alongside Australia’s Steven Smith.
Root has taken his game to a different level altogether in Test cricket, amassing 1,968 runs in 22 matches during the previous WTC cycle. He also leads the list of run-scorers in the ongoing WTC cycle, having collected 1,202 runs in 15 matches.
Root has been reappointed to the England Men’s Test cricket team following the retirement of Ben Stokes. He has been doing an exceptional job, guiding the side to a 2-0 Test series win over Pakistan with a game in hand.
England are currently placed 6th in the WTC 2025-27 standings, with a PCT of 34.44%.
