Joe Root turned the third highest run scorer in test cricket on Friday (July 25, 2025) as he helped England attain 332-2, solely 26 runs behind India.
Root was 63 not out at lunch on day 3 of the fourth test at Old Trafford, with Ollie Pope 70 not out.
The 34-year-old Root overtook India’s Rahul Dravid and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis in total runs scored. Root’s present whole is 13,322, needing 57 extra runs to overhaul Australia’s Ricky Ponting (13,378) however nonetheless far behind first-placed Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).
Of extra significance for England was a commanding opening session in Manchester with the host heading for a considerable first-innings lead and hoping to clinch the five-match sequence, which it at present leads 2-1.
Resuming on 225-2 and replying to India’s first innings of 358, Root and Pope had been each on half centuries as the guests struggled to have any impression with the ball.
But Root’s day might have ended early when he survived almost being run out on 22 following a miscommunication with Pope that left him method out of place when Ravindra Jadeja tried to capitalize. Before that Root narrowly prevented being out leg earlier than wicket.
England scored 107 off 28 overs in the morning session.
England carried on its spectacular batting from day 2 when it took control of the match with a blistering opening partnership of 166 by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.
