England’s star batter Joe Root has added another illustrious feather to his cap, becoming only the second cricketer to score 1,500 Test runs in a calendar year on multiple occasions. Root matched the record of former Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Day 2 of the third Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park.
Root’s stellar year has further cemented his place among the all-time greats, as he topped the charts as the leading run-scorer in Tests for 2024 with 1,502 runs. The English maestro now has his sights set on an even bigger milestone—surpassing 13,000 Test runs, a feat within reach if he scores 84 more runs in the ongoing match.
2024 Test Runs Leaders:
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 0 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JE Root (ENG) | 2024–2024 | 17* | 31 | 4 | 1502 | 262 | 55.62 | 2391 | 62.81 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 137 | 2 |
| YBK Jaiswal (IND) | 2024–2024 | 14* | 26 | 1 | 1308 | 214* | 52.32 | 1799 | 72.70 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 149 | 35 |
| BM Duckett (ENG) | 2024–2024 | 17* | 32 | 1 | 1149 | 153 | 37.06 | 1320 | 87.04 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 153 | 7 |
| HC Brook (ENG) | 2024–2024 | 12* | 19 | 0 | 1099 | 317 | 57.84 | 1288 | 85.32 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 105 | 14 |
| PHKD Mendis (SL) | 2024–2024 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 1049 | 182* | 74.92 | 1582 | 66.30 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 108 | 21 |
Joe Root’s Record-Breaking Calendar Year Performances
Joe Root has now surpassed 1,500 Test runs in two different years, first achieving the feat in 2021 with 1,708 runs and repeating it in 2024 with 1,502 runs.
| Player | Team | Years Achieved | Runs Scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Root | England | 2021, 2024 | 1,708, 1,502 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 2003, 2005 | 1,503, 1,544 |
Root’s incredible consistency over the years places him among cricketing legends, joining an elite list of players who have crossed the 1,500-run mark in a single calendar year.
Most Test Runs in a Calendar Year
| Player | Team | Year | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Yousuf | Pakistan | 2006 | 1,788 |
| Viv Richards | West Indies | 1976 | 1,710 |
| Joe Root | England | 2021 | 1,708 |
| Graeme Smith | South Africa | 2008 | 1,656 |
| Michael Clarke | Australia | 2012 | 1,595 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 2010 | 1,562 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 2005 | 1,544 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 2003 | 1,503 |
| Joe Root | England | 2024 | 1,502* |
Eyeing 13,000 Test Runs
Joe Root is now just 84 runs away from becoming the first English player and the fifth cricketer in history to cross the 13,000 Test run milestone. Root has played 152 Tests so far, scoring 12,916 runs, and could potentially become the fastest to achieve this milestone.
| Player | Team | Matches to 13,000 Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 159 |
| Rahul Dravid | India | 160 |
| Joe Root | England | 152 (ongoing) |
With his stellar form, Joe Root continues to rewrite cricketing history, making 2024 a year to remember for the England batter.
Stay Connected with ProPakistani
Get the latest sports news, match updates, and player stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
