Joe Root Joins Elite Club with 23,000 International Runs

Historic Achievement for Joe Root

Chester-le-Street [UK], September 22: Joe Root, the seasoned England batter, made history on Tuesday by becoming the eighth player in the annals of international cricket to surpass the remarkable milestone of 23,000 runs across all formats.

Root achieved this significant feat during the first ODI against Sri Lanka at Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, marking it in his 394th match on the international stage. This accomplishment places him among a select group of cricketers who have reached this impressive total.

The 35-year-old required just three runs to hit the milestone and ultimately scored 44 runs off 52 balls, which included five boundaries. He has solidified his status as England's top run-scorer in both Test and ODI formats.

Notably, Root is the first English player to reach the 23,000-run mark. Other illustrious players who have achieved this include India's Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, Australia's Ricky Ponting, South Africa's Jacques Kallis, and India's Rahul Dravid.

Currently, Root boasts 14,278 runs in Test matches and had accumulated 7,826 runs in ODIs prior to this series, with his ODI record featuring 20 centuries.

The next highest run-scorer for England is former opener Alastair Cook, who scored 15,737 runs in 257 international matches, primarily in Test cricket, where he totaled 12,472 runs.

Root has been a pivotal player for England, contributing significantly across all formats. The team has already clinched the T20I series against Sri Lanka, achieving a clean sweep with a 3-0 victory in the three-match series.

As they shift focus to the ODI series, Harry Brook will captain the side in their quest for another series win against the Sri Lankan team.