Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player")
Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player Photograph: (AFP)
Joe Root surpassed Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting to become the third-most capped Test player in history during the Edgbaston Test against Pakistan.
England Test captain Joe Root became the third-most capped Test player in cricket history after taking the field on day one of the Edgbaston Test against Pakistan on Wednesday (Sep 9). Root surpassed former Australian captains and Test veterans Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting – who appeared in the same number of Test matches (168) – to feature in his 169th Test match and counting. Only two cricketers have played more Test matches than Root: James Anderson (188) and Sachin Tendulkar (200).
Players to Play Most Test Matches –
- Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 200 Test Matches
- James Anderson (England) – 188 Test Matches
- Joe Root (England) – 169 Test Matches*
- Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 168 Test Matches
- Steve Waugh (Australia) – 168 Test Matches
Root is the only active cricketer on this top-five list, with the remaining four retired from all forms of the game. Tendulkar’s number of Test appearances is not the only record that Root is chasing, as the current England captain is only second to the Master Blaster for most Test runs scored. Root is 1,713 runs behind Sachin’s tally of 15,921 runs that he scored in 200 Test matches.
Also read| Robinson reaches 100 Test wickets as Pakistan collapse to 100/7 in opening session at Edgbaston
Meanwhile, Root was named England’s Test captain after talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes announced his shock retirement after the New Zealand Test series. Root, who led England for six years until 2022, returned to the helm, with the ECB not too confident of handing over the Test baton to white-ball skipper Harry Brook.
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Since assuming the leadership role once again, Root began the second innings of his captaincy stint with thumping wins in the first two Tests against Pakistan, leading England to convincing wins in Leeds and Lord’s. The pace trio of Robinson, Archer and Tongue never allowed the visitors to score more than 200 in any of the four innings, with England staying at the top throughout.
Even during the ongoing third and final Test at Edgbaston, Root’s England wrapped up Pakistan for 133 inside the second session on day one.
