Joe Root moves up in rankings, closing in on Ponting and Tendulkar after extraordinary performance against NZ in 2nd Test

With 35 Test centuries and an impressive tally of 65 half-centuries, Root has established himself as one of the top batters of his generation. Surpassing Dravid's record of 99 occasions of reaching the triple figure mark, Root now trails behind only legends like Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting, who achieved the feat 103 times each, and Sachin Tendulkar, who did so a remarkable 119 times, including 51 centuries. Root's consistent performance and ability to convert starts into big scores have cemented his place among the elite in the world of cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar: 119

Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting: 103

Joe Root: 100*

Rahul Dravid: 99

Root’s phenomenal form in this decade continues, having scored 18 centuries since the start of 2020 in a period that has seen him establish himself as the finest Test batter in the world at the moment. Root has also set a host of other records in 2024, including becoming England’s highest Test run-scorer and notching up the centuries as he grows closer and closer in stats and status to some of the greats of the game in terms of his production.

Root’s stats are bolstered by the fact that an early-career criticism of the English batter was his poor conversion rate, with his number of 50s not translating to big scores, a problem he has found the solution to in the recent past. Root has evolved into a consistent scorer of big runs, meaning he stays well ahead of players such as Steven Smith (42 half-centuries and 31 centuries) and Virat Kohli (31 half-centuries and 30 centuries) in this particular category, as well in the run-scoring lists, as he sprints towards the 13,000-run mark in the format.

Root is currently batting on 73* at stumps on day two at Basin Reserve, in a match that has moved rapidly and seen plenty of fireworks. Gus Atkinson registered a hat-trick in a rollercoaster debut year in Test cricket, while Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell both reached the 90s before being dismissed in the third innings. England currently hold a hefty lead of 533 runs heading into day three, and are on the verge of sealing the inaugural Crowe-Thorpe Trophy with a 2-0 series lead.