Joe Root Surpasses Brian Lara on All-Time Test Run-Scorers List

Joe Root has moved up to seventh place on the all-time list of Test run-scorers, surpassing West Indies legend Brian Lara. Root achieved this milestone during the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston, where he scored 87 runs, bringing his total to 12,027 runs in 143 Tests.

Brian Lara, known for his record-breaking 400 not out against England in 2004, amassed 11,953 runs in 131 Tests, with an average of 52.89 and 34 centuries. Root, with 32 centuries and an average slightly below Lara's, has faced over 21,000 deliveries and significantly increased his scoring rate during England's 'Bazball' era, now standing at 56.71.

While Root trails Lara in terms of sixes, having hit 44 compared to Lara's 88, he leads in the number of half-centuries, boasting 63 to Lara's 48. Root has also struck 1,306 fours in his career, a figure slightly behind Lara's 1,559.

Root's next target on the all-time list is Kumar Sangakkara, who sits at 12,400 runs. However, a more immediate goal for Root is to surpass Sir Alastair Cook's record for the most Test runs by an England player. Cook, Root's predecessor as captain, scored 12,472 runs, making him the fifth-highest run-scorer in Test history.

Looking ahead, with upcoming series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand, Root is well-positioned to overtake Cook and potentially climb higher in the rankings. Beyond Cook, the list includes cricketing legends such as Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs), Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs), Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs), and Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the record with 15,921 runs.