Joe Root continues to prove why he is one of England’s greatest modern batters. Smooth at the crease, calm under pressure, and consistently delivering when it matters, he remains the backbone of England’s Test side. His latest milestone came in the 2nd Ashes Test at The Gabba, where he finally scored his maiden Test century in Australia – also the 40th hundred of his career.
Earlier in 2025, Root was in outstanding touch against India, striking his 39th Test hundred at The Oval – his third of the series. That run made him the first batter to score 500-plus runs in three different Test series vs India. He finished the series with 537 runs, including three centuries, and his 195-run stand with Harry Brook while chasing 374 showed once again how clutch Root can be under pressure.
Joe Root – Career Stats
Let’s take a look at his overall stats across all formats in his international career:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 160 | 13,686 | 51.45 | 57.56 | 40 | 66 |
| ODIs | 186 | 7,330 | 48.54 | 87.66 | 19 | 43 |
| T20Is | 32 | 893 | 35.72 | 126.31 | 0 | 5 |
Root made his Test debut against India during England’s tour of India in 2012. It was the fourth Test of the series. In his first outing, Root scored 73 runs and followed that with an unbeaten 20 runs in the second innings.
His T20I debut happened in December 2012 against India at Wankhede. His ODI debut came during the first ODI of the same series against India in January 2013.
Root has been really successful in Test cricket in recent times. Since 2020, he has played 69 Test matches for England and has scored over 6000 runs, including 22 centuries and 21 half-centuries.
In the recently completed Test series against India, Root finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 537 runs in nine innings at an average of 67.12. He scored his 37th century in the third Test at Lord’s and added two more in the series, taking his tally to 39 Test hundreds at the time.
Root has remained one of the top batters in Test cricket, and he strengthened that reputation further by scoring his maiden Test century in Australia during the 2nd Ashes Test at The Gabba – the 40th hundred of his career.
However, he has not enjoyed the same level of success in limited-overs cricket in recent years. Root last played a T20I in 2019, and while his white-ball opportunities have reduced, his ODI numbers remain exceptional. He has scored 7,330 ODI runs at an average of 48.54, including 19 centuries. Root is England’s leading run-scorer in ODIs and the only Englishman to cross the 7,000-run mark in the format. No other England batter has more than 15 ODI hundreds.
Joe Root’s Playing Style
Root is regarded as one of the most talented batters of this generation and is also a part of the Fab Four. His batting style is an amalgamation of modern and classical techniques. He has dominated both fast bowlers and spinners in his career.
Root excels at strike rotation, which helps him get a better understanding of game situations. He generally gathers runs without playing any risky shots. This is the reason he has been on a run-scoring spree in the last few years. Root has the temperament to play long innings.
He plays on the front foot as well as on the back foot with the same intensity. The reason behind this is that he has an understanding of quickly transferring weight to the back foot. This helps him play pull and cut shots easily. His technique of playing straight drive and off drive is straight out of the cricketing books.
However, he is not someone who relies only on classical shots. He has experimented with his technique and can play innovative shots easily as well. Despite not being too aggressive, Root has a great understanding of the game and adapt across formats and conditions.
Joe Root Centuries
Let’s talk about Joe Root’s centuries across all the formats:
Test Cricket
Here’s the complete list of Joe Root’s centuries in his Test career:
| No. | Score | Opponent team | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 104 | New Zealand | Headingley | 24 May 2013 |
| 2 | 180 | Australia | Lord’s | 18 July 2013 |
| 3 | 200* | Sri Lanka | Lord’s | 12 June 2014 |
| 4 | 154* | India | Trent Bridge | 9 July 2014 |
| 5 | 149* | India | The Oval | 15 August 2014 |
| 6 | 182* | West Indies | St. George’s | 21 April 2015 |
| 7 | 134 | Australia | Cardiff | 8 July 2015 |
| 8 | 130 | Australia | Trent Bridge | 6 August 2015 |
| 9 | 110 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 14 January 2016 |
| 10 | 254 | Pakistan | Old Trafford | 22 July 2016 |
| 11 | 124 | India | Rajkot | 9 November 2016 |
| 12 | 190 | South Africa | Lord’s | 6 July 2017 |
| 13 | 136 | West Indies | Edgbaston | 17 August 2017 |
| 14 | 125 | India | The Oval | 7 September 2018 |
| 15 | 124 | Sri Lanka | Kandy | 14 November 2018 |
| 16 | 122 | West Indies | Gros Islet | 9 February 2019 |
| 17 | 226 | New Zealand | Hamilton | 29 November 2019 |
| 18 | 228 | Sri Lanka | Galle | 14 January 2021 |
| 19 | 186 | Sri Lanka | Galle | 22 January 202 |
| 20 | 218 | India | Chennai | 5 February 2021 |
| 21 | 109 | India | Trent Bridge | 4 August 2021 |
| 22 | 180* | India | Lord’s | 12 August 2021 |
| 23 | 121 | India | Leeds | 25 August 2021 |
| 24 | 109 | West Indies | North Sound | 8 March 2022 |
| 25 | 153* | West Indies | Bridgetown | 16 March 2022 |
| 26 | 115* | New Zealand | Lord’s | 2 June 2022 |
| 27 | 176 | New Zealand | Trent Bridge | 10 June 2022 |
| 28 | 142* | India | Edgbaston | 1 July 2022 |
| 29 | 153* | New Zealand | Wellington | 24 February 2023 |
| 30 | 118* | Australia | Edgbaston | 16 June 2023 |
| 31 | 122* | India | Ranchi | 23 February 2024 |
| 32 | 122 | West Indies | Trent Bridge | 18 July 2024 |
| 33 | 143 | Sri Lanka | Lord’s | 29 August 2024 |
| 34 | 103 | Sri Lanka | Lord’s | 29 October 2024 |
| 35 | 262 | Pakistan | Multan | 7 October 2024 |
| 36 | 106 | New Zealand | Wellington | 6 December 2024 |
| 37 | 104 | India | Lord’s | 11 July 2025 |
| 38 | 150 | India | Manchester | 23 July 2025 |
| 39 | 105 | India | The Oval | 03 August 2025 |
| 40 | 138* | Australia | The Gabba | 4 December 2025 |
Joe Root has played 160 Test matches till now, amassing runs at an impressive average of 51.45, which is a testament to his consistency and experience. He is also England’s leading Test run-scorer, further highlighting his impact in the longest format.
Out of his 40 Test centuries, Root has scored the most against India (14 centuries) and has also accumulated the highest number of runs against them, 3383 runs in total. He is the only player who has scored over 3000 Test runs against India.
Here are some records Joe Root holds in the longest format of cricket:
- Most Player of the Series awards for England – 6
- Most matches as Test captain for England – 64
- Most Test runs for England – 13686 (2nd overall in Test history & 1st for England)
- Most Test centuries for England – 40 (4th overall in Test history & 1st for England)
ODI Cricket
Here’s a look at Joe Root’s centuries in ODI cricket:
| No. | Score | Opponent team | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 107 | West Indies | North Sound | 5 March 2014 |
| 2 | 113 | India | Leeds | 5 September 2014 |
| 3 | 104* | Sri Lanka | Kandy | 10 December 2014 |
| 4 | 121 | Sri Lanka | Wellington | 1 March 2015 |
| 5 | 104 | New Zealand | Edgbaston | 9 June 2015 |
| 6 | 106* | New Zealand | Trent Bridge | 17 June 2015 |
| 7 | 125 | South Africa | Centurion | 9 February 2016 |
| 8 | 109 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 12 February 2016 |
| 9 | 101 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 14 January 2016 |
| 10 | 133* | Bangladesh | The Oval | 1 June 2017 |
| 11 | 102 | New Zealand | Dunedin | 7 March 2018 |
| 12 | 113* | India | Lord’s | 14 July 2018 |
| 13 | 100* | India | Leeds | 17 July 2018 |
| 14 | 102 | West Indies | Bridgetown | 20 February 2019 |
| 15 | 107 | Pakistan | Trent Bridge | 3 June 2019 |
| 16 | 100* | West Indies | Southampton | 14 June 2019 |
| 17 | 120 | Afghanistan | Lahore | 26 February 2025 |
| 18 | 166* | West Indies | Sophia Gardens | June 1 2025 |
| 19 | 100 | South Africa | Rose Bowl, Southampton | 7 September 2025 |
The 34-year-old right-handed batter made his ODI debut in 2013 against India, the same opponent against whom he played his first Test match.
Over his 12-year ODI career, Root has played 180 matches, scoring 7126 runs at an impressive average of 49.14. His consistency is reflected in his 18 centuries and 42 fifty-plus scores, making him a key figure in England’s batting lineup.
Just like in Test cricket, Root’s ability to stay calm under pressure and absorb challenging situations has been crucial for England. His recent performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a prime example of his experience and match-winning temperament, despite England failing to advance from the group stage.
Here are some of Joe Root’s records in ODI cricket:
- Most hundreds in ODIs – 18 (22nd overall & 1st for England)
- Fastest to 4000 runs in ODIs for England – 91 matches
- Highest career batting average in ODIs – 15th
Note: Joe Root doesn’t have any centuries in the T20Is. He played 32 T20I matches, and his highest score is 90* against Australia. He has yet to score a hundred in the T20I, but it may be impossible since he hasn’t been included in England’s T20I squad since the T20 series against Pakistan in 2019.
Joe Root Notable Performance In Tests & ODIs
Joe Root’s international career is filled with exceptional centuries and numerous match-winning knocks, showcasing his brilliance across formats.
His overall tally of runs and records in both Test and ODI cricket cements his status as one of the best batters in modern-day cricket. His ability to perform consistently under pressure has made him a key figure in England’s success over the years.
Let’s take a look at some of Joe Root’s standout performances over the years:
Test Cricket:
- 104 vs New Zealand* at Headingley, 2013
- 200 vs Sri Lanka* at Lord’s, 2014
- 254 vs Pakistan at Old Trafford, 2016
- 118 vs Australia* at Edgbaston, 2023
- 262 vs Pakistan at Multan, 2024
ODI Cricket:
- 113 vs India at Headingley, 2014
- 133 vs Bangladesh* at London, 2017
- 120 vs Afghanistan at Lahore, 2025
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Conclusion: Joe Root Has 59 Centuries and He’s Still Going Strong
With 40 Test tons and 19 ODI centuries, Joe Root now stands tall with 59 international hundreds, cementing his place among cricket’s all-time greats. What makes his journey even more special is the timing of his big knocks — he delivers when England needs him the most.
His latest achievements tell the story. Root finally scored his maiden Test century in Australia during the 2nd Ashes Test at The Gabba, reaching his 40th hundred in the format. Earlier in the year, he dominated India once again, hitting three hundreds in the 2025 series — including his 39th at The Oval and became the first batter in history to score 500+ runs in three separate Test series against India.
Root finished that India series with 537 runs, and his fourth-innings partnership of 195 with Harry Brook while chasing 374 reminded everyone just how clutch he is under pressure.
Smooth with the bat, calm in tough situations, and consistently stepping up in big moments, Root continues to be the backbone of England’s Test team. At 59 international centuries and counting, one thing is clear, Joe Root isn’t done yet. Not even close.
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