December 1, 2024: Joe Root made history on Sunday by surpassing Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in the 4th innings of Test cricket. Root achieved the feat during England’s eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the Christchurch Test. His 23-run unbeaten knock off just 15 balls in the fourth innings pushed his tally to 1630 runs, edging past Tendulkar’s previous record of 1625 runs.
Root’s achievement is a testament to his consistency and resilience in the longest format of the game. He now holds the record for most runs scored in the 4th innings of Test matches, a stat that further cements his place as one of modern cricket’s greats. In third place is former England batter Alastair Cook (1611 runs), followed by former South Africa captain Graeme Smith (1611 runs) in fourth, and West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1580 runs) in fifth.
Since making his Test debut for England in 2012, Root has played 150 Test matches, amassing 12,777 runs at an impressive average of 50.90 and a strike rate of 57.23. His remarkable consistency with the bat has been one of the cornerstones of England’s batting strength over the years.
The Christchurch Test was a thrilling encounter, with England chasing down 104 runs for victory on the fourth day. New Zealand had started Day 4 at 155/6, with a four-run lead over England. The Kiwis added 99 more runs, with Daryl Mitchell playing a standout knock of 84. However, England’s Brydon Carse was the star with the ball, taking 6 wickets for just 42 runs, including three of the remaining four wickets. His career-best performance helped reduce New Zealand to 254 all out, setting England a modest target.
The chase was clinical, with Jacob Bethell impressing on his debut with an explosive, unbeaten 50 off just 37 balls. England chased down the target comfortably, securing an eight-wicket win and taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.
Root’s record-breaking feat and England’s comprehensive win against New Zealand make for an exciting start to their Test series, and it’s clear that Root’s name will continue to be etched in cricket history for years to come.
