Joe Root Close to Breaking Historic Test Record Against New Zealand
Joe Root is just a step away from making history by surpassing Javed Miandad’s record for the most runs scored in Test matches against New Zealand. As the second Test kicks off on Friday, December 6, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Root only needs 189 more runs to break the record. So far, he has accumulated 1,970 runs across 19 matches against the Kiwis, boasting an average of 54.06, which includes five centuries and eight half-centuries.
Miandad, a legendary Pakistani player, faced New Zealand from 1976 to 1993 and scored a total of 1,919 runs in 18 matches, holding an impressive average of 79.95. He hit seven centuries and six fifties during that time. Other top run-scorers against New Zealand include Rahul Dravid with 1,659 runs, Sachin Tendulkar with 1,595, Jacques Kallis with 1,543, Allan Border with 1,500, Chris Gayle with 1,258, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul with 1,232.
Root on the Verge of Another Milestone
In addition to chasing Miandad’s runs record, Joe Root is also just one fifty-plus score away from holding the record for the most such scores in Tests against New Zealand. Currently, both Root and Miandad share the record with 13 each. Dravid, Kallis, and Tendulkar follow closely behind with 12 fifty-plus scores each.
After his impressive 262-run performance against Pakistan at Multan, Root is eager for a Test fifty. In the series opener against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Root unfortunately scored a duck in his very first innings. However, he bounced back to score a quick 23 runs off 15 balls in the second innings, hitting three fours and a six in a more fluent display.
Following the retirement of Alastair Cook earlier this year, Root has taken the lead as England’s top run-scorer in Test matches. Currently, England holds the sixth position in the World Test Championship 2023-25 standings, with a points percentage of 42.50, having won 10 out of 20 matches so far.
