England batter Joe Root reached a major milestone in Test cricket by equalling the record of former Australian captain Ricky Ponting for the third-most Test centuries.
Root achieved the feat during the first innings of the final Ashes Test at Sydney, where he produced a commanding knock of 160 runs against Australia. The innings marked his second century on Australian soil in the series, underlining his consistency in challenging conditions.
He had earlier scored his first hundred of the series in the second Test. With this latest performance, Root brought his Test century tally to 41, placing him joint third on the all-time list alongside Ponting.
A true great of the game 🏏
Joe Root moves level with ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting 📝
More 📲 https://t.co/AEFYMgudtk pic.twitter.com/JfN6kVGxrx
— ICC (@ICC) January 5, 2026Root now stands behind only Sachin Tendulkar, who leads the chart with 51 Test centuries, and Jacques Kallis, who sits second with 45 hundreds.
The England star is also closing in on another landmark. He needs just 63 more runs to reach 14,000 runs in Test cricket. To surpass Tendulkar’s all-time run record, Root would require a further 1,985 runs.
Cricket analysts say Root’s latest achievement reinforces his status as one of the finest Test batters of the modern era. His ability to deliver big scores away from home continues to draw comparisons with the game’s greatest players.
