5 big milestones Joe Root can achieve this year

Joe Root has started 2026 on a stunning note, slamming a fluent century in the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, January 5.

The former England Test captain has not played a T20I since May 2019. However, he featured in the ODI side which toured New Zealand in October-November. Root, however, has been operating on a different level altogether in the red-ball circuit.

In this article, let's take a look at five big milestones the right-handed batter can achieve in the new year.

5 big milestones Joe Root can achieve this year

Most Test half-centuries

Joe Root is second on the list of most fifties scored by batters in Test cricket. The 35-year-old has 66 half-centuries to his name in 297 innings.

Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar holds the record, with 68 half-centuries from 329 innings. However, with the incredible conversion rate Root has, he might actually fall short of breaking Tendulkar's record in 2026 since he is expected to convert his half-centuries into centuries.

First to score 7,000 runs in World Test Championship

Joe Root has played in every World Test Championship (WTC) cycle that has been held so far. The Sheffield-born has amassed 6474 runs from 135 innings in WTC at an average of 52.63. The second-highest run-getter in the WTC is Marnus Labuschagne, and he has 4447 runs from 105 innings.

Root needs just 526 runs to become the first batter to 7000 runs in Test cricket. Root should get to this landmark comfortably in 2026, as the last time he scored less than 500 Test runs in a calendar year was way back in 2020.

Most double centuries for England in Tests

The legendary Wally Hammond sits at the top of the list for most double tons scored by an England batter in Tests. He smashed seven double centuries in just 140 Test innings. On the other hand, Root has six double centuries to his name from 297 innings.

Root, who has the highest Test score of 262, which he scored against Pakistan in October 2024, will look to equal the iconic predecessor's record if not better it. The 262 against Pakistan continues to be Root's most recent double century.

Most Test centuries

Root slammed his 41st Test century in the New Year's Ashes Test against Australia on Monday. The talismanic batter is tied with Ricky Ponting in the third spot on the list of most centuries by batters in Test cricket.

Jacques Kallis holds the second place with 45 centuries to his name. On the other hand, Tendulkar is at the pinnacle, having finished his illustrious career with 51 tons. So, Root needs five centuries to go past Kallis and 11 to become the batter with the most three-figure scores in red-ball cricket.

Highest run-getter in Tests

Joe Root currently has 13,937 runs in Test cricket. He is second on the list of leading run-getters in the longest format of the game. Sachin Tendulkar sits pretty at the top of the pile, with 15,921 runs from 200 Tests. Root needs to score another 1984 runs to surpass Tendulkar.

However, he has already scored 160 in his first innings in 2026. So, he will have to finish with 2144 runs in the calendar year to go past the Master Blaster. However, this scenario seems very unlikely as no batter has scored more than 1788 runs in a calendar year in Test matches.