Joe Root's record-breaking 2024 in Tests: In numbers

27 tons, 26 tons, 21 tons and 17 tons. 

When the numbers were tallied up in 2020, there were growing concerns over one particular name from the Fab Four: Joseph Edward Root. He was so far from the others on that list that even comparing him with Virat Kohli and Steven Smith was considered a ‘sin’. 

But four years later, there is a Root and daylight at the top of the pecking order. 

19 tons, 10, 8 and 3. 

Between Jan 2021 and Dec 2024, Root alone amassed 19 tons, while the other three combined to put up 21 tons on the board. That’s how the script has flipped, making Root one of the hottest properties in the longest format. It was only possible because of two outstanding years: 2021 and 2024. 

While 2021 propelled him to great heights, it was 2024 that put him on a different pedestal, getting to a point where even comparing him with others seemed futile. It was a year when he passed Sir Alastair Cook, left the other three in Fab Four behind, and moved closer to setting up a date with destiny: breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record. 

When Root went past Sir Alastair Cook

Earlier this year, on October 9, the 33-year-old Root went past Cook’s tally of 12,472 runs to become the highest run-scorer in England’s Test history. It was only time for Root to go past the left-handed opener, but he married consistency with a newfound aggression to become England’s all-time highest run-scorer. 

Most runs for England

Joe Root - 12972

Alastair Cook - 12472

Graham Gooch - 8900

Alec Stewart - 8463

And also has the most centuries for England

Root’s tally of centuries this year is six, which took him from 30 to well beyond Cook’s tally of 33 centuries to establish himself at the top with 36 Test tons, level with Rahul Dravid, and can surpass him and Kumar Sangakkara with relative ease. 

Most tons in Test cricket

Sachin Tendulkar - 51

Jacques Kallis - 45

Ricky Ponting - 41

Kumar Sangakkara - 38

Joe Root - 36*

For many cricketers, breaking these two records could be a huge feat, but for Root, it was just the tip of the iceberg. He also demolished several other unique records during the year, including...

Scoring the most fourth-innings runs in Tests

Joe Root - 1684*

Sachin Tendulkar - 1625

Alastair Cook - 1611

Graeme Smith - 1611

Most Test runs in wins

Ricky Ponting - 9157

Joe Root - 6965*

Steve Waugh - 6460

Jacques Kallis - 6379

And also became the first Englishman to surpass the iconic 20,000-run mark in international cricket. But he didn’t stop there; he also became the second-youngest to 12,000 Test runs, at 33 years & 210 days. 

Youngest to 12,000 Test runs

Alastair Cook - 33 years & 10 days

Joe Root - 33 years & 210 days*

Sachin Tendulkar - 35 years & 176 days

Ricky Ponting - 35 years & 214 days

Root also went past Cook’s tally of 6568 runs and now has the most Test runs in England. 

How did he do that? Of course, scoring tons for fun, with six centuries in the year, out of which three came at home, making it the second instance of Root scoring these many tons in a calendar year. If Root keeps his purple patch going, there’s a good chance he can level Ponting’s tally of three six centuries calendar years. 

Most Test runs in England

Joe Root - 6758*

Alastair Cook - 6568

Graham Gooch - 5917

Mike Atherton - 4716

6 centuries in multiple calendar years

Ricky Ponting - 3 (2003, 05 & 06)

Joe Root - 2 (2021 & 24)

Steven Smith - 2 (2015 & 17)

Most Test runs at Lord’s

Joe Root - 2022

Graham Gooch - 2015

Alastair Cook - 1937

While Root was at his absolute best in England, he was also a beast to reckon with away from home, especially in the Asian conditions, where he opened a new chapter, breaking several records en route to his second-best year in Test cricket. One was breaking an age-old record of scoring the most away runs in the sub-continent. 

Most away runs in Asia

Joe Root - 2502

Sachin Tendulkar - 2458

Younis Khan - 2435

Alastair Cook - 2101

Double centuries in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Joe Root - Galle (2021), Chennai (2021), Multan (2024)

Virender Sehwag - Multan (2004), Galle (2008), Chennai (2008)

Mahela Jayawardene - Colombo (2006), Ahmedabad (2009), Karachi (2009)

Most Test centuries against India

Steven Smith - 11

Joe Root - 10*

Ricky Ponting - 8

Root has already broken several records this year, but he will keep an eye on the biggest of them all - breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of Test runs (15,921); at his pace, there’s a strong possibility that 2025 could be a game-changer. So, keep an eye on ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.