Last Updated:June 03, 2026, 16:23 IST
If Root scores 75 runs in the first Test against New Zealand then he will become the first batter in Test history to score 2,000 runs against the Black Caps.
Joe Root 75 runs away from becoming first player to score 2000 runs in Tests against New Zealand. (Picture Credit: AFP)
World No. 1 Test batter Joe Root will be a key player for England in the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, which begins on Thursday (June 4) at Lord’s. The right-handed batter from Yorkshire, who is England’s highest run-scorer in Test cricket, has several major milestones within reach during the series. If Root scores 75 runs in the first Test at Home of Cricket, he will become the first batter in Test history to score 2,000 runs against New Zealand.
Root currently has 1,925 runs in 40 innings of 21 Test matches against the Black Caps.
Among the batters with the most Test runs against New Zealand, Root is followed by Javed Miandad, who scored 1,919 runs in 18 Tests between 1976 and 1993. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar occupy the next two spots with 1,659 and 1,595 runs respectively, while Jacques Kallis is also among the leading run-scorers against New Zealand.
Most runs against New Zealand in Tests
PLAYERTIME SPANMATCHESINNINGSRUNS100/50Joe Root2013-2024214019256/9Javed Miandad1976-1993182919197/6Rahul Dravid1998-2010152816596/6Sachin Tendulkar1990-2012243915954/8Jacques Kallis1999-2013182815436/6Allan Border1980-1993233215005/6Chris Gayle2002-2014122112583/7Shivnarine Chanderpaul1995-2014213412322/8Justin Langer1993-2005142311964/5David Boon1985-1993172711873/8
Root is also on the verge of another historic achievement. He has scored 13,943 runs in 163 Test matches and needs just 57 more runs to become only the second batter in Test history to reach the 14,000-run mark.
The only player to have achieved the feat so far is Sachin Tendulkar, who amassed 15,921 runs in 200 Tests for India between 1989 and 2013.
Most runs in Tests
PLAYERTEAMMATCHESINNINGSRUNS100/50Sachin TendulkarIndia20032915,92151/68Joe RootEngland16329813,94341/66Ricky PontingAustralia16828713,37841/62Jacques KallisSouth Africa16628013,28945/58Rahul DravidIndia16428613,28836/63
Root has also enjoyed tremendous success at home, scoring 7,329 runs in 84 Test matches in England. He requires 340 more runs to surpass Ricky Ponting’s tally of 7,578 runs and move to the top of the all-time list for most runs scored in home Test matches.
Most runs in home Tests
PLAYERHOST COUNTRYTIME SPANMATCHESINNINGSRUNS100/50Ricky PontingAustralia1995-201292154757823/38Joe RootEngland2013-202584147732924/33Sachin TendulkarIndia1990-201394153721622/32Mahela JayawardeneSri Lanka1997-201481129716723/34Jacques KallisSouth Africa1995-201388143703523/34
The former England captain has registered 41 centuries and 66 half-centuries in Test cricket. Among active cricketers, no one has scored more Test runs than Root, while only Sachin Tendulkar remains ahead of him on the all-time list of leading run-scorers in the longest format.
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About the Author
Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor
Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist with CNN-News18 since July 1, 2024, and covers cricket with a sharp eye for records, trends, and match analysis. Based in Noida, he has reported extensively on the…Read More
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