Joe Root equals Ricky Ponting to become joint third on the list of most Test hundreds

Joe Root equalled Ricky Ponting with 41 Test hundreds after scoring a century in the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at the SCG.

England’s veteran batter Joe Root became the joint-third highest century-maker in Test cricket history, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC), after scoring his 41st Test hundred during the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.

With this century, Root joined Australian legend Ricky Ponting, who also finished his Test career with 41 hundreds. Ponting scored 13,378 runs in 168 Test matches at an impressive average of 51.85, including 62 half-centuries.

Root’s historic century in Sydney

Root reached his milestone century in 146 deliveries during England’s first innings on Day 2 of the Sydney Test. This was his second hundred of the ongoing Ashes series, having earlier scored a century in the pink-ball Test in Brisbane.

Since 2021, Root has now scored 24 Test centuries, the most by any batter in this period.

🚨 41ST TEST HUNDRED BY JOE ROOT. 🚨

– The greatest English batter continues to be at his very best. 🫡pic.twitter.com/J7fXRkWE5g

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 5, 2026

Closing in on elite list

In the all-time list of most Test hundreds, Root now trails only:

• Jacques Kallis – 45 centuries
• Sachin Tendulkar – 51 centuries

The English batter is also closing in on 14,000 Test runs. He currently has 13,777 runs from 162 matches and 296 innings, maintaining a strong average of 50.83.

England in control at Lunch on Day 2

England were in a commanding position at Lunch on Day 2, reaching 336/6 in 78 overs.
At the break:

• Joe Root was unbeaten on 138 off 200 balls, including 14 fours
• Will Jacks was not out on 3 off 11 balls

The pair had added 13 runs for the seventh wicket.

Key wickets for Australia

Australia made breakthroughs during the second session:

• Mitchell Starc broke the 169-run fourth-wicket partnership, dismissing Harry Brook for 84 off 97 balls, which included six fours and one six, in the 48th over
• Marnus Labuschagne ended the 94-run sixth-wicket stand by removing Jamie Smith for 46 off 76 balls, with six fours and one six, during the 75th over

Match Progress on Day 1

England won the toss and opted to bat first. However, only 45 overs were possible on Day 1 as the third session was washed out due to rain and bad light.

Openers Zak Crawley (16 off 29 balls, three fours) and Ben Duckett (27 off 24 balls, five boundaries) added 35 runs for the first wicket.

Jacob Bethell was dismissed for 10 off 23 balls, including two fours, before Root and Brook stabilized the innings and took England past the 100-run mark in the opening session.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Michael Neser picked up one wicket each in the first session.

England dominate second session

England dominated the second session, reaching 155/3 after 33 overs. In the following over:

• Root brought up his fifty in 65 balls
• Brook followed with his half-century, hitting a four off Beau Webster

England crossed 200 runs in the 42nd over, and Root and Brook completed a 150-run partnership for the fourth wicket in the 43rd over. The visitors went into tea without losing a wicket before play was once again halted due to rain and bad light.

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