Joe Root Goes Past Steve Smith & Rahul Dravid with 37th Test Century in IND vs ENG 3rd Test
Joe Root has once again shown why he is one of the best batsmen in Test cricket. In the IND vs ENG 3rd Test, the 34-year-old England star scored his 37th Test century, moving past Steve Smith and Rahul Dravid to claim the fifth spot for most Test centuries. This milestone came at Lord’s, a ground where Root has always performed well. Meanwhile, His 11th Test century against India also tied him with Steve Smith for the most centuries against the Men in Blue.
In the IND vs ENG 3rd Test, Joe Root started Day 2 on 99 not out and reached his 37th Test century in the first over. After a quiet performance in the first two matches of the India vs England series, Root found his rhythm at Lord’s, his favorite cricket ground.
England lost their openers early, but Root stayed calm and built strong partnerships with Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes. His patient batting against a tough Indian bowling attack helped England reach a solid position by the end of Day 1. On Day 2, Root crossed the 100-run mark, marking a historic moment in the IND vs ENG 3rd Test.
Moreover, Root’s century was a display of classic Test batting. He played with focus, handling India’s bowlers with ease. His 37th Test century moved him past Steve Smith (36 centuries) and Rahul Dravid, placing him fifth on the all-time list for most Test centuries. This achievement in the India vs England 3rd Test has further solidified Root’s place among cricket’s greats.
Joe Root’s Record Against India
Joe Root’s 37th Test century was his 11th against India, tying him with Steve Smith for the most Test centuries against India. Root took 60 innings to reach this milestone, while Smith did it in 46. Other legends like Gary Sobers, Viv Richards, and Ricky Ponting have eight centuries each against India. Here’s a look at the top players with the most Test centuries against India:
| Player | Inns | Runs | Average | HS | 100s |
| Steve Smith | 46 | 2356 | 58.9 | 192 | 11 |
| Joe Root | 60 | 3054 | 58.73 | 218 | 11 |
| Gary Sobers | 30 | 1920 | 83.47 | 198 | 8 |
| Viv Richards | 41 | 1927 | 50.71 | 192* | 8 |
| Ricky Ponting | 51 | 2555 | 54.36 | 257 | 8 |
Dominating at Lord’s
Lord’s has always been special for Joe Root, and his 37th Test century proved it again. This was his eighth Test century at Lord’s, the most by any player at the iconic ground. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has six, while Graham Gooch, Kevin Pietersen, and Andrew Strauss have five each. Among active players, Ben Stokes is the closest with three centuries. Here’s the list of players with the most Test centuries at Lord’s:
| Player | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | 100 |
| Joe Root | 41 | 2121 | 200* | 57.32 | 8 |
| Michael Vaughan | 19 | 974 | 120 | 54.11 | 6 |
| Graham Gooch | 39 | 2015 | 333 | 53.02 | 6 |
| Kevin Pietersen | 25 | 1235 | 202* | 56.13 | 5 |
| Andrew Strauss | 31 | 1562 | 161 | 52.06 | 5 |
All-Time Test Centuries List
With his 37th Test century, Joe Root moved to fifth place on the list of most Test centuries. He is now one century behind Kumar Sangakkara (38 centuries) and 14 behind Sachin Tendulkar, who leads with 51. Among active cricketers, Root’s 37 Test centuries put him at the top, ahead of Steve Smith’s 36. Here’s the leaderboard for most Test centuries:
| Player | Country | Inns | 100 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 329 | 51 |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 280 | 45 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 287 | 41 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 233 | 38 |
| Joe Root | England | 284 | 37 |
| Steve Smith | Australia | 210 | 36 |
Joe Root’s 37th Test century in the IND vs ENG 3rd Test is a milestone that highlights his consistency and skill. At 34, he continues to break records and lead England’s batting. His has performed well in every continent and also against strong teams like India, Australia and South Africa, this shows why he is a key player for England.
