Joe Root Explained: 13,000+ Test Runs, The Modern Master, and England's Greatest Ever Batter
Joe Root (England, 2012-present) has accumulated 13,000+ Test runs — the most by any England batsman and the most by any active player. His 2021-22 season (1,708 runs in a calendar year, the most by any England batsman in a calendar year) and the Bazball transformation under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Root's technical excellence, off-spin bowling contribution, and why he is considered England's greatest Test batter.
Joe Root (born December 30, 1990, Sheffield) is England's leading Test run-scorer and, statistically, one of the top 3 Test batsmen of the 21st century alongside Steve Smith and Virat Kohli. As of 2024, Root has scored 13,000+ Test runs at 50+ average in 130+ Tests — surpassing Alastair Cook's England Test record (12,472 runs). His 2021 calendar year (1,708 runs in 12 months) is the highest single-year total by any England batsman. Under the 'Bazball' era (from June 2022), Root has been arguably the most impactful batter in England's aggressive Test approach.
Root's 2021 Season: The Most Prolific Year
Joe Root's 2021 Test batting: (1) The year of records: Root scored 1,708 Test runs in 2021 — across series vs Sri Lanka (in Sri Lanka), India (in England), Australia (Ashes, in Australia for 2021-22). This surpassed the previous England record for most runs in a calendar year and was comparable to the best single-year batting performances by any player in Test history; (2) Runs in Sri Lanka (January 2021): Root scored 228 in the 1st Test at Galle — an innings of extraordinary skill against Dilruwan Perera and Lasith Embuldeniya on a turning Sri Lankan track. England won the series 2-0. Root's ability to play spin at a high level (unusual for an England batsman) was established definitively in Sri Lanka; (3) Runs vs India (Summer 2021): Root scored two centuries in England's home series vs India (2021 — England won 2-1 before the 5th Test was cancelled). His century at Headingley (August 2021) was particularly significant — England chased 272 in the final innings, Root scoring 121 not out in the match-winning chase; (4) The consistency: in 2021, Root made 6 centuries and 5 half-centuries in 15 Tests. His average for the year was over 60 — across home conditions (England), away in Sri Lanka, and in Australia. Only Viv Richards (1976 — 1,710 runs) had previously scored 1,700+ runs in a calendar year.
Bazball and Root's Role
Joe Root under Bazball (June 2022 - present): (1) Bazball context: when Ben Stokes became England Test captain (April 2022) and Brendon McCullum became head coach (May 2022), England adopted an aggressive, high-risk, attacking batting approach. They routinely set aggressive run-rate targets, declare early, and chase totals that traditional Test strategy would avoid; (2) Root's adaptation: Root was the ideal Bazball batsman — his technical excellence (he can play any shot against any delivery) allowed him to bat aggressively without sacrificing technique. In Bazball, Root typically bats at No. 4, arriving early in the innings and setting the tempo; (3) Key Bazball innings: Root's 176 vs Pakistan (Rawalpindi, December 2022) in England's then-record chase of 343 runs in 4th innings; his 122 vs Australia (Edgbaston, June 2023 Ashes) in a match where England set Australia an impossible target; his 153 vs India (Rajkot, February 2024) in England's aggressive India tour (England won the series 4-1); (4) Root's no-captaincy return: Root captained England from 2017 to 2022 (64 Tests as captain) before stepping down. Freed from captaincy, his batting average improved markedly — a pattern seen with several former Test captains who benefit from the removed leadership burden.
Root as an Off-Spin Bowler
Root's off-spin bowling contribution: (1) Not a genuine all-rounder: Root's off-break bowling (right-arm, gentle off-spin) is not a primary weapon but a useful surprise option. He averages approximately 46-48 with the ball in Tests — below the threshold of a specialist bowler — but he can turn the ball on helpful surfaces and provides a change-of-pace option; (2) Big wickets at key moments: Root has taken wickets at critical match moments — often breaking partnerships that specialist bowlers could not. His dismissal of AB de Villiers in a series vs South Africa (with an off-break that turned sharply) was a celebrated example of Root bowling at the right moment; (3) Captaincy use of Root's bowling: when Root was captain, he used his own bowling sparingly — typically when the pitch suited spin and he needed to rotate bowling resources. Post-Stokes era, Root bowls when McCullum and Stokes believe conditions suit him.
Frequently asked questions
How many Test runs has Joe Root scored?
Joe Root (England) has scored 13,000+ Test runs as of 2024 — the most by any England batsman (surpassing Alastair Cook's 12,472) and the most runs by any active Test batsman globally. He averages 50+ across 130+ Test matches. His most productive single year was 2021, when he scored 1,708 Test runs (the most by any England batsman in a calendar year and the 2nd-highest single-year Test total in history). Under England's Bazball approach (June 2022-present), Root has continued accumulating runs while batting more aggressively than in his earlier career.
What is Bazball in cricket?
Bazball is the nickname for England Test cricket's aggressive, high-tempo approach adopted when Ben Stokes became captain and Brendon McCullum became head coach in 2022. Named after McCullum's nickname 'Baz,' the approach involves: chasing improbable targets (England successfully chased 299, 296, 272, 343 in 4th innings under Bazball); setting very high run-rate targets; batting with positive intent from ball 1 (high strike rates); and generally rejecting defensive Test match conventions. England won 12 of 14 Tests under Bazball in their first 12 months. Joe Root is the key batsman in the Bazball era — his technical excellence allows him to bat aggressively without technical sacrifice.
Is Joe Root England's greatest Test batsman?
Joe Root is statistically England's greatest Test batsman by runs scored — he surpassed Alastair Cook's England record of 12,472 Test runs in 2023 and continues to extend the record. The broader debate involves comparing Root to historical greats: Jack Hobbs (5,410 runs at 56.94), Len Hutton (6,971 at 56.67), and Denis Compton (5,807 at 50.06) are peak-average contenders from earlier eras; Alastair Cook (12,472 at 45.35) is the volume comparison. Root's combination of volume (13,000+) and average (50+) makes him statistically England's best — though some analysts argue Hobbs and Hutton's era-adjusted averages would be higher in a modern context.