ENG vs IRE: Joe Root completes 11,000 Test runs, fastest batter to feat by matches

ENG vs IRE: Joe Root became the fastest batter to reach 11,000 Test runs in terms of matches, reaching the mark in his 130th game for England.

England’s Joe Root in action against Ireland. | Photo Credit: AP

England batter Joe Root completed 11,000 Test runs during the one-off Test against Ireland at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday.

Root achieved the landmark when he reached 52 before Tea on day two of the four-day Test. He is the 11th batter overall to aggregate as many runs in whites. Sachin Tendulkar leads the charts with 15,921 runs in 200 Tests.

Root fell soon after Tea on 56 off 59 balls.

Root is the fastest batter to reach the milestone in terms of matches, reaching the mark in just his 130th game, ahead of West Indies legend Brian Lara (131 matches). The former England captain is also the quickest Englishman to the feat, surpassing Alastair Cook who crossed the mark in his 161st Test.

In 2022, Root had become the joint-youngest (31 years, 157 days, level with Cook) batter to aggregate 10,000 Test runs.

Fastest batters to 11,000 Test runs (by matches)

• Joe Root - 130th match
• Brian Lara - 131st match
• Kumar Sangakkara - 134th match
• Mahela Jayawardena - 149th match