EDGBASTON: England batsman Joe Root became only the seventh player in Test history to reach 12,000 runs, reaching the milestone during the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Root reached the milestone when he reached 62 runs with four off Alzarri Joseph on the first ball after lunch on Day 2.
The former captain combined with current skipper Ben Stokes to rebuild England’s innings with a hundred-plus partnership for the sixth wicket. The hosts were reduced to 54 for five in 12 overs in pursuit of West Indies’ first innings total of 282.
Root scored his 95th Test fifty-plus score during the innings, the sixth highest among all the betters
Interestingly, Root is the second youngest batsman behind compatriot Alastair Cook to reach 12,000 Test runs, completing the feat at the age of 33 years and 210 days. Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid was the oldest batsman to cross the mark at the age of 37 years and 339 days. Root also eclipsed West Indies batting legend Brian Lara’s 11,953 runs during his knock.
