ENG vs IND: Joe Root goes past Kumar Sangakkara in the most test hundreds list, becomes the only player to score 500 runs against India in three series

Joe Root hammered his 39th test century during The Oval test.

Joe Root smacked a marvellous century in the second innings of the fifth test between India and England at The Oval, London. Scoring 105 runs off 152 deliveries, he slammed his 39th century in the longest format of the game.

With his century in the Oval test, Root surpassed Kumar Sangakkara in the list of batsmen with the most centuries in test cricket. The former England skipper now grabs the fourth spot in the list and closely follows former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting, who has 41 test tons in his kitty.

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar (51) holds the record for most centuries in test cricket, followed by former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis with 45 tons. Below are the top five batsmen with the most hundreds in test cricket.

Top five batsmen with most hundreds in test cricket

1. Sachin Tendulkar (IND)- 51
2. Jacques Kallis (SA)- 45
3. Ricky Ponting (AUS)- 41
4. Joe Root (ENG)*- 39
5. Kumar Sangakkara (SL)- 38

Joe Root scores 500-plus runs in test series against India on three occasions

Notably, Root has become the first player to score 500 runs in a test series against India on three occasions. He ended with 537 runs in the ongoing series. Previously, he also scored 500-plus runs during the test series against India in 2014 and 2021.

Moreover, he also became the first batsman to cross 6000 runs in ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history during the Oval test. In the previous test at Old Trafford, Manchester, he surpassed Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid to become the second-highest run-scorer in test cricket history.

Meanwhile, Root slammed three centuries in the ENG vs IND test series. With 537 runs in five games at an average of 67.12, he finished as the leading run-scorer for England and second second-highest run-getter in the series.

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