England’s batting star Joe Root has made history by becoming the second player ever to score 14,000 runs in Test Cricket. This milestone was reached on June 20, 2026, in the second Test match against New Zealand at The Oval. As the stand-in captain, Root needed just two runs in England’s second innings and achieved the feat with a single off New Zealand bowler Matt Henry in the seventh over.
With this achievement, Root joins the legendary India batsman Sachin Tendulkar as the only players to surpass the 14,000-run mark in Test cricket. It took 16 years after Tendulkar first reached this milestone in a Test match against Australia in Bengaluru in 2010 for another player to do the same.
Tendulkar accomplished this in his 279th Test innings, while Root reached it in his 302nd innings. However, Root reached the milestone in his 165th Test match, highlighting his remarkable performance in the format over the past decade.
Root’s success has been built on durability, flexibility, and a constant drive for runs. Since his Test debut against India in 2012, he has become one of the top batsmen of his time and a notable figure in red-ball cricket.
The Yorkshire player has scored runs at an average of over 50, including 41 centuries and 66 half-centuries in Test cricket. His ability to perform in various conditions and against different opponents has been key to England‘s achievements over the years.
New Zealand close to historic win
Meanwhile, New Zealand is on the brink of a significant victory at The Oval against England. On an exciting final day of Test cricket, England requires 281 runs to win, while New Zealand aims to take five wickets to secure the match.