Joe Root one century away from unique world record in Manchester Test
Joe Root eyes history in the 4th Test vs India, needing one century to become the first player with 20 WTC hundreds and aiming for 6000 WTC runs.
New Delhi: Joe Root is on the brink of creating another history as England prepare for the crucial fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Manchester. The 34-year-old played a match-winning knock in the third Test at Lord's and is now just one century away from becoming the first player ever to score 20 centuries in the World Test Championship (WTC).
After a quiet start to the series, Root roared back into form at Lord's, scoring a crucial hundred in the first innings. His composed knock helped Lions post 387, a total that proved decisive in a tight contest. Despite India’s efforts, they fell short in the chase, losing the match by 22 runs. Without Root's century, the match could have swung in India's favour, making his innings a turning point in the series.
Chasing WTC and Test recordsRoot has been the most prolific batter in the WTC era, topping the charts with 19 hundreds in 67 matches. Steve Smith sits in second place with 13 centuries, making Root's consistency stand out even more. Now, he stands just a century away from becoming the first cricketer to reach 20 WTC hundreds, setting a benchmark for others to follow.
| S. No. | Player | Centuries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Root | 19 |
| 2 | Steve Smith | 13 |
| 3 | Kane Williamson | 11 |
| 4 | Marnus Labuschagne | 11 |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma | 9 |
Not just that, there is also another record within his reach in Manchester as he needs 204 runs to become the first player to score 6000 runs, another landmark that reflects his stature in modern-day Test cricket. Currently, he has 5796 runs and remains the leading run scorer in the championship.
Tendulkar and Ponting record within reach
Root's hunger to score runs has kept him in the race to challenge Sachin Tendulkar's record of most runs in Test cricket. While he is still 2500 runs behind but his form and fitness suggest he has a fair shot if he continues for a few more years.
Meanwhile, he needed just 119 runs in the Manchester Test to surpass Ricky Ponting's record to become the second-highest run scorer in Test cricket history, moving a step closer to Tendulkar's all-time record.
As the fourth Test approaches, Root will not be looking to strengthen England's positive run in the series but will also have his eyes on these personal milestones. With the form he showed at Lord's, all eyes will be on Root to see if he can add another historic chapter to his already illustrious career.