Joe Root Needs 30 Runs To Equal Ricky Ponting’s Unique Record In Test Cricket?

Root will become the second batter after Ponting to reach the 1500-run milestone in a calendar year on several times in Test cricket if he scores at least 30 runs in the third Test match against New Zealand.

Joe Root will be in action for England in the third Test against New Zealand, which is set to start on Saturday, December 14, at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

The right-handed batter, who is England’s leading run scorer in the five-day format of the game, scored a century in the second innings of the second Test played at Basin Reserve in Wellington last week. He would like to maintain his red-hot form in the third Test and score big runs once again.

During the third and final Test of the away series, Root will have a chance to join legendary Australian batter and former captain Ricky Ponting in an elite list.

The 33-year-old batter has scored 1470 runs in 16 Tests played so far in 2024. If he manages to score at least 30 runs in the third Test, then he will complete 1500 Test runs in 2024.

By crossing the 1500-run mark, Root will become the second player in the history of Test cricket to score 1500 runs in a calendar year on multiple occasions.

Ponting, who holds the record for scoring the most runs in Test cricket for Australia and second overall in the world, is the only player to date who has amassed a total of more than 1500 Test runs in a calendar year on multiple occasions.

During his playing days, Ponting scored 1503 runs in 11 Tests for Australia in 2003, and then in 2005, he hammered 1544 runs in 15 matches.