Joe Root has done it again. The England batter reached 14,000 Test runs on Day 4 of the 2nd England vs New Zealand Test at The Oval, and he got there faster than Sachin Tendulkar. Root needed 164 matches to cross the 14,000-run mark. Tendulkar had taken 171 matches to reach the same number. That is seven fewer matches, and it has put the cricket world right back in the middle of one of its favourite debates: is Joe Root on his way to becoming the greatest Test batter of all time?
Let’s look at the numbers, compare the two players, and let the stats do the talking.
The 14,000-Run Milestone
Reaching 14,000 Test runs is something only a handful of cricketers have ever done in the history of the game. It takes years of consistency, fitness, and a love for the longest format of cricket. Root crossed this landmark at The Oval during the ongoing England vs New Zealand series, and he did it in style.
| Batter | Runs | Matches to 14K | Average | 100s |
| Joe Root | 14,000* | 164 | 50.73 | 41 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 14,000 | 171 | 53.78 | 51 |
Root got there seven matches faster than Tendulkar. While Tendulkar’s average at that stage was higher, Root’s speed to the milestone is hard to argue with. In terms of matches played, no batter in history has reached 14,000 Test runs quicker than Joe Root.
Overall Test Career Numbers
Before going into the fine details, here is a side-by-side look at where both players stand in their overall Test careers.
| Batter | Runs | Matches | Innings | Average | 100s | 50s |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 15,921 | 200 | 329 | 53.78 | 51 | 68 |
| Joe Root | 14,000* | 164 | 302 | 50.73 | 41 | 67 |
Tendulkar’s 15,921 runs is still the world record for most runs in Test cricket. Root is currently sitting at 14,000, which means he needs 1,922 more runs to break that record. Given his current form and pace, that target is very much within reach.
Tendulkar has 51 Test hundreds, also a world record. Root has 41, and at his current scoring rate, that record too could come under threat in the next few years.
The World Test Championship: Root’s Dominance
One of the biggest reasons Root has jumped ahead of almost every other active batter is his form in the World Test Championship (WTC), which started in 2019. Since the WTC began, Root has been in a different class altogether.
| Batter | WTC Runs | Matches | Average |
| Joe Root | 6,577 | 76 | 51.78 |
| Steve Smith | 4,564 | 59 | 50.00 |
Root’s 6,577 WTC runs are more than 2,000 runs better than the next best batter, former Australia captain Steve Smith. That gap is massive. It shows just how consistent Root has been over the last seven years. While other top batters have had dips in form or missed matches due to injury, Root has kept scoring and scoring.
Tendulkar played before the WTC era, so this comparison is not possible. But in terms of modern-day Test cricket, Root’s WTC numbers are the best anyone has ever put together.
How Root Performs in Wins
Here is something that often gets ignored in batting comparisons, how does a batter perform when their team wins? It is one thing to score big when the match is already lost. It is another to score when your team needs you most.
Root’s numbers in England wins are outstanding:
| Match Result | Runs | Matches | Average | 100s |
| England Wins | 7,248 | 74 | 62.00 | 26 |
| Draws | 2,351 | 26 | 61.00 | 8 |
In 74 Test wins for England, Root has scored 7,248 runs at an average of 62, with 26 hundreds. In drawn matches, he has 2,351 runs in 26 games at an average of 61, with 8 more hundreds. These are not numbers of a batter who only scores when the game is gone. These are the numbers of someone who scores big when it matters.
Tendulkar also had strong numbers in wins, but breaking them down in the exact same way for a like-for-like comparison is difficult given the different eras they played in.
Tendulkar vs Root: Era and Context
Any honest comparison between Sachin Tendulkar and Joe Root must also look at the era in which each player batted. Both played at the highest level, but cricket changed a lot between Tendulkar’s peak years and Root’s.
| Factor | Sachin Tendulkar | Joe Root |
| Career span | 1989–2013 | 2012–present |
| Pitches faced | More spin-heavy subcontinental tracks | Mix of Bazball-era flat and spinning tracks |
| Playing style | Classical, technically correct | Elegant, adaptive, strong on the leg side |
| Team dependency | India often relied heavily on him | England’s batting has been deeper in recent years |
Tendulkar carried the Indian batting lineup for over two decades. There were many matches where, if Tendulkar got out cheaply, India struggled to post a competitive total. The pressure on him was enormous throughout his career. Root, on the other hand, plays in an England team that, especially under the Bazball approach introduced by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, has several match-winners up and down the order.
That does not take anything away from Root. Scoring 14,000 runs at over 50 in any era is a sign of a truly great batter. But it is important to keep context in mind when placing these two players against each other.
Hundreds and Big Scores
Both players have a natural hunger for big scores. Once they get in, both tend to go on and make it count. Here is a look at their century tallies and how they compare.
| Batter | Total 100s | Total Runs | 100s per Match |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 51 | 15,921 | 0.255 |
| Joe Root | 41 | 14,000* | 0.250 |
The hundreds-per-match ratio is almost identical. Tendulkar scores a century roughly once every four matches. Root is right there with him. At this rate, Root will almost certainly go past 51 Test hundreds before he retires, putting him at the top of that list as well.
Consistency Over Time
One of the biggest marks of a great Test batter is not just scoring big in a few good patches. It is about being consistent year after year, series after series, against all types of bowling attacks on all kinds of pitches. Both Tendulkar and Root pass this test with flying colours.
Tendulkar scored runs in India, England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, everywhere. He was equally good at home and away, against pace and spin.
Root has carried on in a very similar fashion. He has big hundreds in Australia, in the subcontinent, in South Africa. He has scored on pitches that turned, on pitches that seamed, and on flat batting tracks. His range of shots and his ability to quickly change his game plan against different attacks has kept him scoring consistently even as he has moved into his mid-30s.
| Batter | Home Average | Away Average |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 54.74 | 53.05 |
| Joe Root | 51.24 | 50.10 |
The home-away split for both players is remarkably close. Neither batter has a massive drop-off when playing outside their home conditions. That kind of consistency over a long career is what separates the very good from the truly great.
The Record That Stands Above All
At the end of the day, the number that defines Test batting greatness is 15,921, Tendulkar’s world record tally of Test runs. Root is now 1,921 runs away from it.
| Batter | Total Test Runs | Matches |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 15,921 | 200 |
| Ricky Ponting | 13,378 | 168 |
| Jacques Kallis | 13,289 | 166 |
| Rahul Dravid | 13,288 | 164 |
| Joe Root | 14,000* | 164 |
Root has already gone past Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid, three of the best Test batters ever. He is now in second place on the all-time list, and the gap between him and Tendulkar is closing with every innings he plays.
Two Greats, One Game
Joe Root and Sachin Tendulkar are two of the finest Test batters the game has ever produced. Tendulkar built his legacy over 24 years, through different formats, different eras, and enormous pressure as the face of Indian cricket. Root has built his quietly and steadily, letting his bat do all the talking, year after year, series after series.
The records that Tendulkar set looked untouchable for years. One by one, Root is reaching them. Reaching 14,000 in 164 matches, seven fewer than Tendulkar, is the latest step in that journey. The 15,921-run mark now sits as the final mountain, and at his current pace, Joe Root is heading straight for it.
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