Joe Root Equals Rahul Dravid's Big Test Feat With Ton vs New Zealand

England batter Joe Root equalled Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid to become Test cricket's fifth-highest century getter on Sunday. Root accomplished this feat during the second Test against New Zealand at Wellington. In the match, Root, after making just three in first innings, broke his string of low scores with a brilliant 106 in 130 balls in the second innings. His knock consisted of 11 fours and runs came at a strike rate of 81.53. This was Root's 36th Test century, matching him with Dravid's tally. Root has the highest amount of centuries by an England batter.

The highest amount of centuries in Test cricket are by Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38).

This was Root's sixth Test hundred in 2024, equalling his own record for most Test centuries scored in a calendar year by an English batter. This year in Tests, Root has made 1,470 runs at an average of 56.53, with six centuries and four fifties in 29 innings with best score of 262.

The most Test centuries scored by a player in a calendar year are by Pakistan legend Mohammed Yousuf, who scored nine centuries in 2006.

With this win over New Zealand by 523 runs in the second Test, England has secured the three-match series by 3-0.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. England could not get the start they wanted and were reduced to 43/4. It was the next-generation of England stars, Brook and Ollie Pope, who put England back on track, run-by-run. A brilliant counter-attack saw them stitch a 174-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Brook smashed his eighth Test ton and second successive ton against Kiwis, continuing his love affair with the country. He smashed 123 in 115 balls, with 11 fours and five