England star batter Joe Root has added another milestone to his remarkable career. On December 27, 2025, during the fourth Test of the Ashes series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Root achieved a historic feat by scoring his 22,000th international run. He scored 15 runs in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test to reach this incredible number, joining a very exclusive club of just nine batters in cricket history.
To understand just how special Root’s achievement is, it is important to look at the other eight batters who have scored more than 22,000 international runs. These are some of the greatest names in cricket history, and Root now stands alongside them as one of the sport’s most prolific run-scorers.
Sachin Tendulkar: The Greatest Run-Scorer of All Time
Sachin Tendulkar of India sits at the top of the list with 34,357 international runs. Tendulkar played 664 international matches over a career that spanned from 1989 to 2013. His average of 48.52 runs per match shows how consistent he was throughout his career. Tendulkar is widely considered the greatest batter of all time. He holds many records in international cricket, including the most Test centuries with 51 and the most ODI centuries with 49. Tendulkar’s name has become almost equal to cricket excellence, and he set the standard that all other batters try to follow.
Kumar Sangakkara: Sri Lanka’s Batting Legend
Kumar Sangakkara from Sri Lanka is the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket. He scored 28,016 runs in 666 matches at an average of 46.77. Sangakkara played both Test cricket and ODI cricket at the highest level and was known for his technical skill and smart cricket thinking. He was also a wicketkeeper for much of his career, which added to his value as a player. Sangakkara showed great character throughout his career and was respected by players and fans all over the world.
Virat Kohli: India’s Modern Champion
Virat Kohli of India is third on the list with 27,975 international runs in 623 matches. What is remarkable about Kohli is that he has achieved this in fewer matches than most of the other players on this list. His average of 52.58 runs per match is one of the highest among all the players who have scored more than 22,000 runs. This shows that Kohli is not just a prolific run-scorer, but also one of the most effective batters in modern cricket. Kohli is still playing international cricket and will likely move higher on this list before he retires.
Ricky Ponting: Australia’s Attacking Legend
Ricky Ponting of Australia scored 27,483 international runs in 668 matches at an average of 45.95. Ponting was known for his aggressive approach to batting and his ability to score quick runs. He was also the captain of Australia’s cricket team for a long period and was one of the most successful captains in cricket history. Ponting’s style of batting was very different from some of the other players on this list, but his ability to score runs consistently was never in question.
Mahela Jayawardene: Sri Lanka’s Complete Batter
Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka scored 25,957 international runs in 725 matches at an average of 39.15. Jayawardene played the most matches among the top run-scorers, which speaks to his longevity in cricket. He was also the captain of Sri Lanka for a period and played a big role in his country’s cricket team. Jayawardene was known for his calm approach to the game and his ability to read the pitch and bowlers.
Jacques Kallis: South Africa’s All-Round Great
Jacques Kallis from South Africa scored 25,534 international runs in 617 matches at an average of 49.10. What makes Kallis special is that he was not just a great batter, but also one of the finest all-rounders in cricket history. He was a useful bowler as well and could change the course of a match with his bowling. Kallis showed great balance in his cricket career and was a valuable member of South Africa’s cricket team for many years.
Rahul Dravid: India’s Wall
Rahul Dravid of India scored 24,208 international runs in 605 matches at an average of 45.41. Dravid was known for his strong defense and his ability to play long innings. He was given the name “The Wall” because of his reliable and solid batting. Dravid played a crucial role in building India’s cricket team and was respected by all players for his knowledge of the game. He later became the coach of India’s cricket team, showing how much knowledge and skill he had.
Brian Lara: West Indies’ Attacking Genius
Brian Lara from the West Indies scored 22,358 international runs in 521 matches at an average of 46.28. Lara was known for his beautiful batting style and his ability to score quick runs. He holds the record for the highest individual Test score of 400, which shows the kind of impact he could have in a single innings. Lara was a player who could change a match completely with his bat, and he was loved by cricket fans all over the world for his attacking approach to the game.
Joe Root’s Journey to This Milestone
Joe Root’s 22,000 international runs have come from three different formats of cricket. In Test matches, Root has scored 13,777 runs in 162 matches at an average of 50.84. He has scored 40 Test centuries, showing his ability to build big innings and anchor his team’s batting. Root’s Test average of over 50 puts him among the best Test batters in cricket history.
In One Day Internationals, Root has scored 7,330 runs in 186 matches at an average of 48.54. He has scored 19 centuries in this format as well. In Twenty20 Internationals, Root has scored 893 runs in 32 matches. What this shows is that Root is a complete batter who can succeed in all forms of the game.
Joe Root’s Recent Form and the Ashes
Root’s achievement of 22,000 international runs came during the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia. Just before reaching this milestone, Root had also broken another personal record. He scored an unbeaten 138 in the first innings of the second Ashes Test at Brisbane. This was a very important century because it was Root’s first century on Australian soil. For many years, Root had struggled to score big runs in Australia, and this century showed that he can still perform on difficult pitches and against strong bowling attacks.
In the Melbourne Test where Root reached 22,000 runs, England put up a strong fight against Australia. In the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, England showed great character. They chased down a target of 175 runs and won the match by four wickets, registering their first victory of the tour. This victory brought Australia’s home winning streak against England to an end. Australia had won the first three Ashes Tests in a row, but England’s win in Melbourne showed that they are still capable of competing at the highest level.
The Complete List of Elite Run-Scorers
To put Root’s achievement into clear view, here is the list of the nine batters who have scored 22,000 or more international runs:
| Rank | Player Name | Country | Total Runs | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 34,357 | 664 | 48.52 |
| 2 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 28,016 | 666 | 46.77 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | India | 27,975 | 623 | 52.58 |
| 4 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 27,483 | 668 | 45.95 |
| 5 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 25,957 | 725 | 39.15 |
| 6 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 25,534 | 617 | 49.10 |
| 7 | Rahul Dravid | India | 24,208 | 605 | 45.41 |
| 8 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 22,358 | 521 | 46.28 |
| 9 | Joe Root | England | 22,000 | 380 | 49.21 |
Joe Root’s achievement of 22,000 international runs is a historic milestone in cricket. It places him among the greatest run-scorers to have ever played the game. Root has achieved this through a combination of technical skill, consistency, and a long career at the top level of international cricket. His average of 49.21 runs per match shows that he is not just someone who has scored a lot of runs, but someone who has scored them at a high rate of success.
The post Joe Root Becomes 9th Batter to Achieve This Feat, Joins Sachin and Lara appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
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