England’s batting maestro Joe Root is on the brink of rewriting cricket history as he prepares to face India in the opening Test of the much-anticipated five-match series. The former England captain needs just one fifty-plus score to become the first player in the world to register 40 scores of 50 or more in the World Test Championship (WTC) era.
🏏 Root’s WTC Dominance: A Class Apart
Root currently boasts 18 centuries and 21 fifties in the WTC, totaling 39 fifty-plus scores—the highest by any player. A half-century or more in the first Test will make him the undisputed leader in WTC batting milestones, surpassing the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.
🇮🇳 Chasing 3000 Test Runs Against India
Root is also closing in on another monumental feat—becoming the first cricketer to score 3000 Test runs against India. With 2846 runs in 30 Tests, he needs just 154 more to reach the landmark.
🏆 Multiple Records Within Reach
In addition to the WTC and India-specific records, Root is eyeing:
- Fastest to 4000 international runs (needs 142 more)
- Most fifties in WTC history (currently tied with Labuschagne at 22)
- Second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, potentially overtaking Ricky Ponting’s 13,378 runs if he scores 373+ in the series
🗣️ All Eyes on Headingley
With the first Test set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Root’s home ground, expectations are sky-high. His form and experience will be crucial for England, especially with India fielding a new-look squad in the absence of veterans like Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami.
