Joe Root Eyes Historic Milestones as England Prepare for Second Test Against India at Edgbaston
As England gears up to face India in the second Test at Edgbaston starting Wednesday, all eyes are once again on Joe Root, who continues to inch closer to the game’s greats with every outing. The veteran batter, already one of the finest of his generation, has a chance to scale more statistical peaks with another commanding performance at his favourite hunting ground.
Root enters the match on the back of a solid start to the series, having contributed 28 and an unbeaten 53* in England’s victory at Leeds that handed them a 1-0 lead. Now returning to Edgbaston, a venue where he has consistently dominated, the 33-year-old is poised for another run-making spectacle.
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In nine Tests at Edgbaston, Root has scored a staggering 920 runs in 16 innings at an average of 70.76, making him the all-time highest run-scorer at the venue. His record includes three centuries and five fifties, with a best of 142*. His recent form here is even more imposing—424 runs in his last five innings at an eye-watering average of 141.33.
Another century at Birmingham would not only boost England’s chances of sealing the series but also mark a historic personal achievement for Root. It would take his Test century tally to 37, pushing him past Steve Smith and Rahul Dravid into fifth place on the all-time list. With Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 Test centuries still distant, Root’s steady rise brings him ever closer to that revered summit.
Root is also on the cusp of matching South Africa’s Hashim Amla, who has 55 international centuries across formats. With 36 tons in Tests and 18 in ODIs, Root sits just one behind Amla. Only six players in history have reached or exceeded that milestone, with Tendulkar topping the chart with 100 international centuries.
On the all-time Test run-scoring charts, Root is currently fifth with 13,087 runs in 154 Tests at an average of 50.92. A substantial knock of 202 or more in Birmingham would see him leapfrog Rahul Dravid (13,288) to become the fourth-highest Test run-getter in history.
India, meanwhile, face a daunting challenge. After failing to defend a 371-run target in the first Test, they trail in the series and must find a way to contain a resurgent England side—particularly Root, whose form and record at Edgbaston make him a looming threat.
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