STATS: Joe Root narrows Sachin Tendulkar’s lead to under 2000 runs, equals Ricky Ponting with 41st Test century in Sydney

Joe Root celebrates his 41st Test century in the SCG Ashes Test on Monday. (AP Photo)

Joe Root has finally notched up a red-ball hundred in Australia, ending over a decade-long wait for a century in Test cricket’s oldest version during the fifth Ashes 2025-26 Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.

Resuming from his overnight score of 72, Root nonchalantly cantered to his 41st Test century in only 146 deliveries on day two morning, marking his second century of the tour Down Under after having notched up his maiden Test ton in the country in the Pink-Ball Test at the Gabba last month. The 34-year-old had never reached the three-figure mark in 14 Test matches held in Australia before the current series.

Joe Root brings up his second Test century in Australia 👏#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/bXwBXY7nw0

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2026

The Englishman marked the first international Test ton of 2026, a milestone that saw him draw level with Australia legend Ricky Ponting at 41 Test centuries, the third-most in the format, only behind Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45).

Root also notched up a colossal figure with his 60th international century, making him only the sixth batter in history to reach the landmark across formats. Root’s tally is also the second-highest among active cricketers, with only India superstar Virat Kohli ahead of him with 84 centuries across formats in 623 innings.

Despite watching Harry Brook (84), Ben Stokes (0) and Jamie Smith (46) fall at the other end, Root carried on past lunch on the second day and notched up his 17th career 150-plus score in Test cricket, making it the fourth-highest ever on the charts, led by Tendulkar (20).

Root, who has been touted to break Tendulkar’s epochal record Test runs tally has now narrowed the gap with the India batting legend to under 2,000 runs in the format. While Tendulkar notched up 15,921 runs in 329 innings during his 24-year career, Root is closing in on 14,000 runs with an average of 51.39.