Joe Root added another big milestone to his extraordinary test career when he took the field for England against Pakistan in the third and final Test at Edgbaston on 9 September 2026. Root went onto third place on the all-time list in Test games played, behind Australian greats Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh.
Root came into the Edgbaston Test with 168 appearances, equaling Ponting and Waugh. By getting the chance to test at his 169th Test, the England batsman moved ahead of the two Australian legends and cemented his position as one of the most experienced players in Test cricket history.
Root Moves Into Elite Company
This puts Root only behind Sachin Tendulkar and former England teammate James Anderson on the all-time Test appearances list.
Tendulkar still holds the record with 200 Test matches while Anderson finished his celebrated England career with 188 appearances. Root's 169 Tests were therefore 19 matches behind Anderson and 31 behind Tendulkar.
The gap means Tendulkar’s record remains a challenging target, but Root’s remarkable longevity has meant a record is very much of a target now, which makes the chance of another historic record of breaking so much more than ever of being ever-important. The England star still plays a crucial role on the national test side at 35.
Another Tendulkar Record in Sight
Root is also after Tendulkar beyond appearances. England's captain has already established himself as one of the greatest run-scorers in Test history and is a staple of discussions about Tendulkar's long-standing batting records.
Before the Edgbaston Test, Root had 14,208 Test runs from 168 games including 41 centuries and 68 fifties. He also entered the third Test after recently overtaking Ricky Ponting as the highest run-scorer in Test cricket on home soil.
Tendulkar's overall Test record of 15,921 runs remains the ultimate benchmark. Root has more ground to cover but his consistency over a decade has kept him within striking distance of many historic milestones.
England Target Pakistan Series Sweep
Root's record-breaking appearance came during an important match for England. The hosts went into the third Test with an unassailable 2-0 lead after comprehensive victories in the opening two games.
England won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before winning by 194 runs at Lord's. The final Test at Edgbaston on 9 September and 13 September can see England complete a 3-0 series sweep.
Root also leads England in a time of transition. At present, Root has been restored to captaincy with Ben Stokes no longer in the Test team and now combines the captaincy of England with balancing leadership responsibilities and his own personal goals.
Root's Lasting Test Legacy
From his first test in 2012 against India, Root has developed into one of England’s most reliable red-ball batters. His ability to continue to be among the best both in the past and in the present and in all situations has made him world-class.
A huge achievement, too, to surpass Ponting and Waugh on the appearances list is another sign of his extraordinary longevity. The next big challenge will be to catch Anderson and see if he can get close to Tendulkar’s 200-Test record.
For now, Root's 169th appearance at Edgbaston is another stepping stone in a career that is continuing to alter England's history in Test cricket.
