London, August 3, 2025 – Joe Root has once again etched his name in cricketing history as England near a dramatic victory over India in the fifth and final Test at The Oval.
The former England captain became the first batter to reach 6000 runs in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), solidifying his position as the tournament’s most prolific run-scorer.
Root achieved the milestone on Day 4 while guiding England’s challenging chase. Featuring in his 69th WTC match, Root tops the leaderboard ahead of Australia’s Steve Smith (4278), Marnus Labuschagne (4225), England teammate Ben Stokes (3616), and Travis Head (3300). Root’s extraordinary WTC record includes 20 centuries and 22 fifties, with an impressive average exceeding 52.
The 34-year-old has been in sublime form throughout the five-Test series against India. Earlier in Manchester, Root surpassed legends like Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Men’s Test history. His consistency and hunger for runs remain unmatched.
Root, a cornerstone of England’s batting order, now also shares the fourth spot for most Test centuries (38), alongside Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara. Additionally, he holds the record for most catches by an outfield player in Test cricket, a feat he enhanced during the ongoing series.
England, currently leading the series 2-1 after notable victories at Headingley and Lord’s, are within striking distance of clinching the final Test. Root’s calm presence at the crease continues to anchor the side as they aim for a historic series win. His record-breaking run underlines his immense value to England and his ever-growing stature in world cricket.