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Joe Root's 41st Century: Closes in on 14,000 Runs

1/5/2026

23 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

England's Joe Root scored his 41st Test century, equaling Ricky Ponting for the third-most in Test history.
He scored 160 runs off 242 balls, his second century of the series.
Root is now 63 runs from 14,000 Test runs, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar for the all-time record.
Since 2021, he has 24 centuries, the most of any player in that period.
England posted 384 runs in their first innings.

History

Historical Context

Since 2018, Test cricket has experienced a revival, highlighted by players like Virat Kohli, who scored 25 centuries that year. Joe Root's recent 41st Test century underscores this trend, as he approaches 14,000 Test runs. The competitive landscape of modern cricket continues to evolve, suggesting that records will be consistently challenged, shaping the future of the sport.

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Story summary

England's Joe Root scored his 41st Test century, equaling Ricky Ponting for the third-most in Test history.
He scored 160 runs off 242 balls, his second century of the series.
Root is now 63 runs from 14,000 Test runs, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar for the all-time record.
Since 2021, he has 24 centuries, the most of any player in that period.
England posted 384 runs in their first innings.

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