Joe Root Joins Elite Company with 41st Test Century

Joe Root Achieves Milestone in Test Cricket

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), England's renowned batsman Joe Root has now reached a remarkable milestone, tying for third place in the all-time list for the most Test centuries in international cricket. During the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, Root scored his 41st Test century, equaling the record set by Australian legend Ricky Ponting.

Ricky Ponting, a celebrated figure in cricket, amassed 13,378 runs at an impressive average of 51.85 over 168 Test matches, which includes 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries.

On the second day of the Sydney Test, Root completed his century off 146 balls during England's first innings. This century marked his second in the ongoing Ashes series, having previously scored a century in the pink-ball Test in Brisbane. Since 2021, this has been Root's 24th Test century, surpassing the total number of centuries scored by any other player during that period.

In the all-time Test century rankings, Root is now just behind South African great Jacques Kallis (45) and Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar (51). The English batsman has nearly reached 14,000 runs in Test cricket, having scored 13,777 runs in 296 innings across 162 matches, with an average of 50.83.

England's Strong Position in the Test

Meanwhile, by lunch on the second day, England had established a solid position. In their first innings, the Three Lions scored 336 runs in 78 overs, with Will Jacks remaining not out on 3 runs from 11 balls and Root on 138 runs from 200 balls, which included 14 boundaries. The partnership for the seventh wicket yielded just 13 runs off 20 balls.

In the early part of the second session, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc broke the substantial 169-run partnership for the fourth wicket, dismissing Brook on the fourth ball of the 48th over. Brook had scored 84 runs off 97 balls, featuring six fours and a six.