When Joe Root walked out to bat at The Gabba in December 2025, he carried more than just England’s hopes — he carried a decade-long wait.
His unbeaten 138 wasn’t just another century.
It was his maiden Test hundred in Australia, ending years of frustration on arguably cricket’s toughest stage.
That knock took him to 40 Test centuries, a tally only three players in history have surpassed.
Root doesn’t just score runs.
He scores them when pitches flatten out, when they’re doing bits, when England’s backs are against the wall, and when the series is on the line.
His 59 international centuries tell the story of a batter who’s built a career on reliability rather than fireworks.
Joe Root Centuries in All Formats
Breaking Down Joe Root’s Century Record
Root’s journey to 59 international hundreds spans 13 years across three formats.
His Test cricket dominance stands out — 40 centuries in 160 matches at an average of 51.45.
In ODIs, he’s notched 19 hundreds from 186 games at 48.54. T20Is?
Zero centuries from 32 matches, though that ship has likely sailed since he last featured in the format back in 2019.
The numbers reveal a clear pattern. Root’s built for the longer formats, where his ability to grind out sessions and absorb pressure becomes a weapon.
His strike rate of 57.56 in Tests might not scream aggression, but it reflects intelligent batting — he scores when the bowlers tire, rotates strike religiously, and punishes anything loose without needing to manufacture risks.
Total Century Count of Joe Root
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Centuries | Half-Centuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 160 | 13,686 | 51.45 | 40 | 66 |
| ODIs | 186 | 7,330 | 48.54 | 19 | 43 |
| T20Is | 32 | 893 | 35.72 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 378 | 21,909 | 49.45 | 59 | 114 |
Joe Root’s Test Career: Where Legends Are Made
Root made his Test debut in India back in 2012, scoring 73 in his first innings at Nagpur.
It took him just over a year to register his first hundred — 104 against New Zealand at Headingley in May 2013. From there, the floodgates opened.
His Test runs now stand at 13,686, making him England’s all-time leading run-scorer in the format.
He’s overtaken Alastair Cook’s record and shows no signs of slowing down.
Since 2020 alone, Root has hammered 22 Test centuries — a ridiculous rate of conversion that’s kept him in conversations about being the best Test batter of this generation.
India has been his favorite opponent.
Root’s scored 14 Test hundreds against them and piled up 3,383 runs — the only player in history to cross 3,000 Test runs against India.
His 2025 series against them was vintage Root: three centuries, 537 runs at 67.12, and a match-saving 195-run partnership with Harry Brook while chasing 374 at The Oval.
Joe Root Centuries by Country
Root’s traveled the world and scored everywhere, but some venues have been kinder than others.
Lord’s has seen six of his centuries — more than any other ground.
He’s also feasted in Asia, particularly in Sri Lanka and India, where turning pitches haven’t bothered him the way they trouble many English batters.
Australia remained his final frontier until December 2025.
Despite touring Down Under multiple times, Root couldn’t convert starts into hundreds — until The Gabba.
That unbeaten 138 wasn’t just personally satisfying; it was tactically crucial, giving England control in a must-win Ashes Test.
His 262 against Pakistan at Multan in October 2024 remains his highest Test score.
That innings showcased everything Root does well: patience early on, acceleration through the middle overs, and ruthless efficiency once set.
He batted over 10 hours, faced 375 balls, and didn’t give Pakistan a sniff.
Joe Root ODI Centuries: Quiet Brilliance in White-Ball Cricket
Root’s ODI career doesn’t get the same spotlight as his Test achievements, but his record is rock solid.
Nineteen centuries from 186 matches, averaging nearly 50 — those are numbers most white-ball specialists would kill for.
His ODI debut came in January 2013 against India, and by March 2014, he’d notched his first hundred against West Indies at North Sound.
Unlike his Test cricket, where he’s England’s anchor, Root often played a different role in ODIs — batting at three or four, building platforms, or accelerating through the middle overs when England’s explosive openers got out cheaply.
His 166 not out against West Indies at Sophia Gardens in June 2025 was classic Root — measured early, brutal late.
He reached his hundred off 103 balls, then went berserk, adding 66 runs in the final 30 deliveries.
That knock showed he’s adapted to modern ODI cricket without abandoning his core strengths.
Root’s also England’s leading ODI run-scorer with 7,330 runs — the only Englishman past 7,000.
No other English batter has more than 15 ODI hundreds; Root has 19.
Yet his white-ball career is winding down. He hasn’t been a regular in England’s limited-overs setups recently, with younger, more explosive options taking priority.
Expert Insight: What Makes Root’s Centuries Special
Root’s batting isn’t about power. It’s about control.
Watch him for 20 balls, and you’ll notice something odd — he rarely looks hurried.
Even fast bowlers at 90mph don’t seem to rush him.
That’s because Root’s trigger movements and footwork are so precise that he’s always in position early.
His sweep shot against spin is borderline unfair.
Root sweeps from outside off-stump, from middle, from leg — it doesn’t matter.
He’s got the wrist control to send the ball square, fine, or behind square based on field placements. Bowlers know it’s coming and still can’t stop it.
But here’s what separates him from other technically correct batters: Root doesn’t just occupy the crease. He scores.
His strike rotation is relentless.
Singles to third man, nudges through midwicket, taps into gaps — he keeps the scoreboard ticking even when he’s not hitting boundaries.
Over a full day’s play, that adds up to 80-90 runs without a single moment of risk.
The mental side matters too. Root’s temperament under pressure has won England matches they had no business winning.
The 2025 India series at The Oval is a perfect example.
England needed 374 to win.
Most teams would’ve folded. Root and Brook put on 195, with Root anchoring the chase through sheer bloody-mindedness. That’s not just skill — that’s character.
Joe Root’s Age and Longevity
At 34 years old, Root’s entering the twilight of his career, but you wouldn’t know it from watching him bat.
He’s adapted his game intelligently — less cut shots early in his innings now, more reliance on his bread-and-butter scoring areas through midwicket and extra cover.
Test cricket is physically brutal, and Root’s played 160 matches already.
Yet his recent form suggests he’s got plenty left. Since turning 30, he’s averaged over 50 and scored at a faster clip than earlier in his career.
England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach under Brendon McCullum has actually suited Root.
He still plays his natural game but benefits from the scoreboard pressure England’s aggressive tactics create.
If he stays fit, Root could realistically play another three years and push his Test century count into the mid-40s.
That would put him within touching distance of Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 Test hundreds — a milestone that seemed untouchable a decade ago.
Joe Root T20 Centuries: The Format That Got Away
Root’s T20 international career is essentially over.
He hasn’t played a T20I since 2019, and his record in the format is modest — 893 runs at 35.72 with a highest score of 90 not out against Australia.
Zero centuries in 32 matches tells its own story. T20 cricket rewards boundary-hitters and risk-takers.
Root’s game is built on accumulation, not explosion.
In an era where teams routinely score 200-plus, Root’s strike rate of 126.31 — decent by traditional standards — feels pedestrian.
England’s moved on. Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, and a host of aggressive stroke-players have made Root’s skillset redundant in T20s.
It’s not a criticism of his ability; it’s just format evolution.
Root’s greatness lies elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many total centuries does Joe Root have?
Joe Root has 59 international centuries — 40 in Tests and 19 in ODIs. He hasn’t scored a T20I century.
- Which country has Joe Root scored the most centuries against?
Root has scored 14 Test centuries against India, more than any other opponent. He’s also accumulated over 3,000 Test runs against them.
- What is Joe Root’s highest Test score?
Root’s highest Test score is 262 against Pakistan at Multan in October 2024. He batted for over 10 hours in that innings.
- How old is Joe Root?
Joe Root is currently 34 years old and continues to be a key player in England’s Test setup.
- Has Joe Root scored a century in Australia?
Yes, Root finally scored his maiden Test century in Australia in December 2025, making an unbeaten 138 at The Gabba during the Ashes.
Final Thoughts
Joe Root’s 59 international centuries aren’t just numbers.
They represent 13 years of turning up, doing the hard work, and delivering when England needed him most.
From his first Test ton at Headingley in 2013 to his breakthrough hundred at The Gabga in 2025, Root’s built a legacy on consistency, mental toughness, and pure class.
His latest achievements — three hundreds against India in 2025, becoming the first batter to score 500-plus runs in three separate series against them, and finally conquering Australia — prove he’s still at the peak of his powers.
With 40 Test centuries, he’s already England’s greatest run-scorer in the format.
And he isn’t finished yet.
Root doesn’t play for records, but they keep piling up anyway.
That’s what happens when you marry talent with hunger, technique with temperament, and skill with an almost stubborn refusal to fail. England’s run machine keeps rolling.
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