England's Joe Root Fastest Player to Reach 13,000 Test Runs

Joe Root became the first English batter and the fifth overall in Test cricket history to reach 13,000 runs during the one-off four-day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. Root achieved the milestone in 153 matches, making him the fastest player to reach 13,000 Test runs by matches played, surpassing Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, and Sachin Tendulkar, but he is the slowest in terms of innings, reaching the mark in his 279th innings. Root's achievement highlights his longevity, consistency, and adaptability across different conditions, having scored over 2,000 runs against Australia and India and over 1,000 runs against several other major cricketing nations. With over 30 centuries and a batting average above 49, Root remains one of England's most reliable and prolific Test performers. His milestone underscores a defining moment for England cricket and places him in contention to challenge some of Tendulkar's all-time records, including the most Test runs and fifties. Root's form will be crucial for England's upcoming series, as he continues to build on a remarkable career that began in 2012.