After breaking multiple Sachin Tendulkar records, Joe Root tops list of most test hundreds among active players

Joe Root smashed his 37th Test hundred at Lord's. (Photo: BCCI and ICC)

Joe Root became the active player with the most Test centuries after notching up his 37th hundred for England against India at Lord’s on Friday (July 11). Earlier, Steve Smith of Australia (36 centuries) and Root shared the top for most tons in Test cricket among active players.

During the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Root got past Sachin Tendulkar record of 1,575 runs and became the highest run-scorer in India-England Tests on English soil.

Root added another milestone to his illustrious Test career by becoming the first player to score 3,000 runs in England-India Test matches. The 34-year-old achieved this landmark on Day 1 of the ongoing Test at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.

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Root reached the milestone after scoring his 45th run in the innings. With this feat, he now holds the record for the most Test runs in matches between the two sides, once again surpassing Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, who had accumulated over 2,500 runs in these contests.

He has also entered the top five with most hundreds in Test cricket.

A splendid knock from Joe Root as he brings up his eighth Test century at Lord's #WTC27 #ENGvIND  https://t.co/0NCkPJe9tS pic.twitter.com/QiHk4XRXfA

— ICC (@ICC) July 11, 2025

5 Players With Most Hundreds in Test Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar – 51

Jacques Kallis – 45

Ricky Ponting – 41

Kumar Sangakkara – 38

Joe Root – 37*

Starting Day 2 unbeaten on 99, Joe Root wasted no time in getting to his century, striking a boundary off the very first ball. Having navigated a tense opening day, he brought up his hundred in composed fashion, reaching the milestone in 192 balls — a testament to his patience and control in tough conditions.

In this kind of form, Root will be aiming to notch up more milestones as the series progresses.

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Coming to the match again, Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first. Root was once again the hero for England after the openers went back into the pavilion early. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is currently levelled at 1-1.