Joe Root: The Relentless Craftsman of Modern Cricket

If Test cricket were a big concert, Joe Root would sit up front as the first violin, calm and always in tune. He’s careful with every stroke, lets his bat talk, and plays lifts that can quiet a crowd in seconds. While the game now cheers huge sixes and fancy stats, his honest craft feels almost old-school. Even while scoring big, he smiles like it was no big deal, hiding the hard edge that keeps him going.

Let’s dig into the hundreds, those clutch innings, and the clean numbers that show Root isn’t just England’s anchor; he’s one of the quiet greats the whole cricket world respects.

Joe Root’s Century Tally Across Formats – The Numbers Behind the Calm

Root doesn’t crash the gates — he slips through, bat tucked under his arm, and exits with runs on the board before anyone notices the carnage. Here’s a quick breakdown of his centuries across formats:

Format	Matches	Runs	100s	50s	Average	Highest Score
Tests	140+	11,400+	31	60+	49+	254 vs Pakistan
ODIs	160+	6,400+	16	38+	49.7	133* vs Bangladesh
T20Is	30+	893	0	5	35.7	90 vs South Africa
TOTAL	—	18,700+	47	100+	—	—

The Test Specialist Who Refused to Stay in One Box

Many batters today pick a lane. Root didn’t.

He came into the England Test side in 2012 — fresh-faced and wiry — just as the shadow of KP was beginning to recede. Within a couple of years, Root wasn’t just part of the top order — he was the top order. Through batting collapses, captaincy chaos, and spin-frazzled subcontinental tours, Root became the guy who could stand tall while the rest folded.

Remember 2021? That wasn’t just a good year — it was absurd. Over 1700 Test runs. Hundreds in Galle, Chennai, and Lord’s. In spin, seam, heat, and haze — Root danced, swept, and caressed his way through bowling attacks like a man possessed.

ODI Consistency: The Glue That Held the English Machine

While Jos Buttler smashed, and Ben Stokes bruised, Root anchored. His ODI role wasn’t glamorous, but it was essential.

Often batting at No. 3, Root’s job was to steady if there was an early collapse — or accelerate if the openers laid a platform. He did both with remarkable consistency. And though he never crossed the 150-mark in an ODI, his 16 centuries have often come under pressure, chasing scores or rebuilding innings from rubble.

It’s not a coincidence that England’s white-ball rise post-2015 came with Root at the center.

T20Is: The Format That Got Away (Sort Of)

Root’s T20I career is a curious one.

He debuted in 2012 but has played sparingly ever since — partly due to England’s depth in power-hitters, partly because Root’s classical style is considered less suited to the format.

But let’s not forget the 2016 T20 World Cup. In the semifinal against New Zealand, Root calmly dismantled their attack with a 44-ball 83. And in the final? He opened the bowling — yes, bowling — and dismissed Chris Gayle. If you were there, you know: Root’s T20 utility isn’t a myth. It’s just underused.

Root vs the Fab 4 – More Than Just Numbers

Talk about elite batting in the 2010s, and you’ll hear one phrase: “The Fab Four” — Kohli, Smith, Williamson, Root.

Statistically, Root sometimes gets overshadowed by the fireworks of Kohli or the eccentric genius of Smith. But here’s the thing: Root has more Test centuries outside home than all of them. He has scored hundreds in India, Sri Lanka, UAE, South Africa, West Indies, and Australia.

When it comes to adaptability and grit, he’s right up there — maybe even higher. He doesn’t just turn up in flat pitches and stack runs. He survives where others flinch.

Captaincy: Burden or Boost?

Between 2017 and 2022, Joe Root skippered England in 64 Test matches, the largest tally in the team’s long history. His overall record was up and down, yet on a personal scale, it sparkled.

Rather than weigh him down, the captaincy seemed to steel his focus. Game after game, even on challenging, foreign roads-he scored heavy runs while handling press questions, squad changes, and a bowling group that often muted its roar.

Root stood down in 2022 following a rough tour of the West Indies, but his mark as captain won’t be judged by silverware. It will be considered by the way he behaved. He never yelled; he simply played the game.

Batting Technique: A Masterclass in Rhythm and Reaction

Root’s batting isn’t mechanical. It’s jazz.

He doesn’t hit the ball — he redirects it. Late cuts that split third man and gully. Wristy drives that somehow beat mid-off. And that trademark shuffle across off stump — designed to neutralize LBW threats, but also to open up scoring options on both sides.

He rarely muscles the ball. Instead, he manipulates it — like a chess player anticipating angles before they exist.

Records That Speak Louder Than Hype

Let’s highlight some records that define Root’s aura:

Milestone	Record
Youngest English player to 10,000 Test runs	At age 31
Most Test runs by an England captain	Over 5,200
Fastest Englishman to 6,000 ODI runs	141 innings
Highest individual score in Tests	254 vs Pakistan at Lord’s
Most away Test hundreds by an English batter	12+ (as of 2025)

These aren’t just numbers. They’re timelines of resilience.

Joe Root in 2025 – The Veteran Who’s Still Hungry

He may no longer be England’s captain, but Root remains a core part of the Test setup. With England building toward the next Ashes and a Test Championship final, his role as a mentor and run machine is more vital than ever.

He’s not chasing limelight. He never was.

He’s chasing balance, timing, placement — and perhaps one more hundred in a cauldron-like Eden Gardens, a sun-scorched MCG, or a damp Headingley morning.

The Underrated Great

Here’s the thing about Joe Root: he doesn’t scream greatness. He whispers it. Slowly. Over years. Across continents. In match situations where others blink.

His records might eventually be overtaken. His stats may someday be buried under flashier batters. But for those who’ve watched him build an innings brick by brick — especially in hostile, unforgiving conditions — Root’s genius isn’t up for debate.

He didn’t change cricket. But he reminded it what class looks like.

And in an era of noise, that’s rare.