England’s stand-in captain Joe Root added another landmark to his remarkable Test career on Saturday after becoming only the second batter in history to cross 14,000 runs in the longest format. The milestone came during the second innings of the ongoing Test against New Zealand at The Oval in London.

 

Root entered the innings needing just two runs to reach the figure. The moment arrived in the seventh over when he nudged a delivery from Matt Henry for a single, taking his aggregate beyond the 14,000-run mark. In doing so, he joined an exclusive club that had been occupied solely by Sachin Tendulkar for more than a decade and a half.

 

The achievement came in Root’s 165th Test and 302nd innings. While he reached the mark later than Tendulkar, who completed it in his 279th innings, the feat further cemented the English batter’s place among the modern game's greatest performers.

 

Consistency Drives Root’s Remarkable Rise

 

The milestone is the latest reward for Root’s sustained excellence across formats, particularly in Test cricket. Since the post-pandemic period, the right-hander has transformed his game through technical adjustments and a more proactive approach at the crease.

 

Those changes have translated into extraordinary consistency. Root has been England’s batting mainstay through different phases of the team’s evolution and has continued to deliver runs regardless of conditions or opposition. His ability to combine patience with attacking strokeplay has made him one of the most difficult batters to dismiss in contemporary cricket.

 

The 35-year-old has also enjoyed one of the most productive periods of his career over the last few years, regularly converting starts into significant scores and helping England remain competitive in major Test contests around the world.

 

Read also: Afghanistan skipper Hashmat Shahidi battles to his maiden ODI hundred in Chennai against India

 

Tendulkar’s Record Remains Within Reach

 

While crossing 14,000 runs is a significant achievement in itself, attention will inevitably turn toward the all-time Test run-scoring record. Tendulkar remains at the summit with 15,921 runs from 200 Tests, leaving Root 1,921 runs away from the historic mark.

 

Based on his current career average of over 50, Root would require roughly 38 more innings to bridge that gap. With England continuing to play a busy Test schedule, the record could come into view within the next two years if he maintains his current standards.

 

Whether he eventually surpasses Tendulkar or not, Root’s latest milestone has strengthened his standing among the finest Test batters the game has produced.