It is not unreasonable to suggest that Joe Root could one day break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in Test cricket. The Indian legend has occupied the top of the run-scoring charts since 2008, when he overtook Brian Lara’s 11,953 runs, eventually finishing his career with 15,921 runs across 200 Tests. For more than 17 years, Tendulkar’s record has seemed untouchable, with only a few batters coming close.
Former England opener Alastair Cook posed a threat during his career, compiling 12,472 runs in 161 Tests, but he retired in 2018 at the age of 34. Now, Joe Root, also representing England, appears to be the first batter since Cook to have a genuine chance of claiming cricket’s ultimate Test batting record.
Here is a comparison of the highest run-scorers in Test cricket:
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score |
| Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 200 | 329 | 15,921 | 248* |
| Joe Root (England) | 163* | 297 | 13,937 | 262 |
| Ricky Ponting (Australia) | 168 | 287 | 13,378 | 257 |
| Jacques Kallis (South Africa) | 166 | 280 | 13,289 | 224 |
| Rahul Dravid (India) | 164 | 286 | 13,288 | 270 |
As of the first innings of the ongoing Sydney Test, Root has 13,937 runs, meaning he requires 1,984 more runs to surpass Tendulkar. At 35, and with 37 fewer Tests played, Root will need to maintain near-peak performance until the very end of his career.
Examining his recent form, Root has played 65 Tests between 2021 and 2025, averaging nearly 13 Tests per year and 23 innings, scoring consistently at an average of 55.12, higher than his career average of 51.23.
| Year | Tests | Innings | Runs |
| 2021 | 15 | 29 | 1,708 |
| 2022 | 15 | 27 | 1,098 |
| 2023 | 8 | 14 | 787 |
| 2024 | 17 | 31 | 1,556 |
| 2025 | 10 | 18 | 805 |
Looking ahead, England have 11 Tests remaining in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle, including home series against New Zealand and Pakistan (six Tests) and away series against South Africa and Bangladesh (five Tests). If Root maintains his career average, he would need approximately 38 innings to overtake Tendulkar—suggesting the record may not fall until 2028, when Root will be 38.
Home matches offer a slight advantage: in the past two years, Root has averaged 68.72 at home, providing an opportunity to gain ground in 12 potential home innings. Yet cricket is unpredictable, and injuries, form, or selection can always affect the outcome. Whether Root chooses to continue playing for another two or three years will also determine if this historic record finally changes hands.
Even so, the race to surpass Tendulkar remains one of the most compelling narratives in modern Test cricket, combining statistics, skill, and the unpredictable drama of the game.