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England's run machine, Joe Root, has achieved multiple historic milestones during the ongoing second Test against Australia at The Oval. England’s stand-in captain is leading the team from the front and achieved legendary feats on Day 4 of the match at the Oval.
The hosts were reeling at 40-3 while chasing a world-record 463 runs to win the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, but it was Joe Root who showed his class and took the game to the fifth day after defending England culture amid Ben Stokes controversy.
Joe Root becomes first ever batter to score 2,000 Test runs against New Zealand
Joe Root became the first player in the world to score 2,000 Test runs against the Black Caps during the ongoing second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. The modern-era legend achieved the milestone when England was under serious pressure during the chase.
Before this Test series, Root needed only 75 runs to reach the special milestone. However, the right-handed batter managed just nine runs in the opening Test at Lord's and then scored 46 runs in the first innings of the second Test at The Oval.
In England's tough fourth-innings chase of 463 runs, Root managed to survive the tough sessions and then played calm innings using his trademark timing and smart placement. At the stumps, Root remained unbeaten on 75 off 137 balls against the Kiwis at The Oval.
Root overtakes Javed Miandad
With this knock, Root entered the record books as the first batter ever to score 2,000 Test runs against New Zealand. He reached the milestone in 44 innings and has dominated the Blackcaps for years with remarkable consistency, scoring six centuries and nine half-centuries against them.
In the process, the Englishman broke the record of the former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad, who had scored 1,919 runs against New Zealand in the traditional format of the game.
Joe Root achieves incredible 14,000-Test run feat
Additionally, Root also became the only second player in the history of Test cricket to cross 14,000 runs. However, Root reached the 14,000-run mark in his 302nd Test innings, while Sachin Tendulkar achieved the milestone faster in 279 innings.
The 36-year-old is now only behind Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar (15921) on the list of the all-time leading run scorers in Test cricket. Joe now has 14073* runs to his name in 302 innings.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is third on the all-time Test runs list with 13,378 runs. South Africa's Jacques Kallis is fourth with 13,289 runs, followed by the Indian legend Rahul Dravid in fifth place with 13,288 runs in the original format of the game.
You look up, and Joe Root's on 14,000 Test runs. pic.twitter.com/6VRBYDNLRB
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 20, 2026
Joe Root's Test career
Since making his Test debut against India in 2012, Joe Root has been one of the most consistent batters in world cricket. He averages 50.77 in the format, and he has already smashed 41 centuries and 66 fifties, making him one of the greatest Test batters of all time.
Well, England has five wickets in hand, and now they still need 281 runs in 99 overs to win the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. However, New Zealand would love to finish the match on the final day to level the ongoing three-match Test series against New Zealand.
