Joe Root facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Joe Root

Root in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Joseph Edward Root
Born	(1990-12-30) 30 December 1990 (age 34) Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off break Right-arm leg-break
Role	Top-order batter
Relations	Billy Root (brother)
International information
National side	England (2012–present)
Test debut (cap 655)	13 December 2012 v India
Last Test	23 July 2025 v India
ODI debut (cap 227)	11 January 2013 v India
Last ODI	3 June 2025 v West Indies
ODI shirt no.	66
T20I debut (cap 63)	22 December 2012 v India
Last T20I	5 May 2019 v Pakistan
T20I shirt no.	66
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2009–present	Yorkshire
2018/19	Sydney Thunder
2021–present	Trent Rockets
2023	Dubai Capitals
2023	Rajasthan Royals
2024–	Paarl Royals
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 157 180 231 218 Runs scored 13,409 7,126 18,555 8,339 Batting average 51.17 49.14 50.28 47.38 100s/50s 38/66 18/42 52/88 19/50 Top score 262 166* 262 166* Balls bowled 6,170 1,755 8,887 2,318 Wickets 73 28 99 41 Bowling average 47.26 61.85 48.89 53.87 5 wickets in innings 1 0 1 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0 Best bowling 5/8 3/52 5/8 3/52 Catches/stumpings 212/– 88/– 262/– 100/–
Medal record Men's cricket Representing  England ICC Cricket World Cup Winner 2019 England and Wales ICC T20 World Cup Runner-up 2016 India ICC Champions Trophy Runner-up 2013 England and Wales
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 27 July 2025

Joseph Edward Root, also known as Joe Root, is a famous English cricket player. He was born on December 30, 1990. He plays for the England in Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs). From 2017 to 2022, he was the captain of England's Test team.

Joe Root plays for Yorkshire in England. He is currently the top run-scorer among active batsmen. He is also the second-highest run-scorer ever in Test cricket. Many people think he is one of the best batsmen England has ever had. He was a key player when England won the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He has been ranked as the world's best Test batsman many times.

Root started playing Test cricket in 2012 and ODIs in 2013. He played for England's Twenty20 International team until 2019. He holds records for most Test matches as England captain (64). He also has the most wins (27) and losses (26) as captain. In 2018, he was named in England's greatest Test team ever. He was named the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year in 2021.

Joe Root is a right-handed batsman. He usually bats in the middle of the batting order. He holds the record for the most centuries (scores of 100 runs or more) for England in both Tests (38) and ODIs (18). In June 2022, he became only the second English player to score 10,000 Test runs. He also bowls occasionally and is a great fielder.

Early Life and Cricket Start

Joe Root grew up in Dore, Sheffield. His younger brother, Billy, also plays cricket. Joe went to Dore Primary and King Ecgbert School. At 15, he attended Worksop College on a cricket scholarship.

Joe joined Sheffield Collegiate CC, just like his father. Famous Yorkshire batsman Michael Vaughan also played there and inspired Root. Joe won an award at the Bunbury Festival. He is a big fan of Sheffield United F.C..

Playing for Yorkshire

Root on his Yorkshire debut in 2009

Joe Root first played for Yorkshire's second team in 2007. He scored 57 runs in his first game. He was named player of the tournament when Yorkshire’s Academy won the ProARCH Trophy. Root got his chance in Yorkshire's main team in 2009. He scored 63 runs on his debut, which he called a "dream come true."

After playing well for England Under-19s, Root signed a three-year contract with Yorkshire. He played in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Later, he went to a cricket academy in Australia to improve his skills.

In 2011, Root made his first-class debut for Yorkshire. He scored his first century in a County Championship match against Sussex. Root later captained Yorkshire to win the 2014 County Championship title. He also helped them win it again the next year.

Root celebrates after scoring a century for Yorkshire (2024).

In 2022, Root was kept by the Trent Rockets for The Hundred tournament. In December 2022, he was bought by Rajasthan Royals for the IPL 2023.

Starting International Career

2012–2013: England Debut

Joe Root played his first Test match for England in December 2012 against India. He was the 655th player to represent England in Tests. He scored 73 runs in his first innings. This helped England win their first Test series in India since 1984-85.

He made his T20 International debut soon after, and his ODI debut in January 2013. In his early ODI matches, he scored several half-centuries. He became the first batsman to start his ODI career with six scores over 30.

2013–2014: Big Series and First Ashes

Root in 2013

In 2013, Root scored his first Test century at his home ground, Headingley. He made 104 runs against New Zealand. He was England's top scorer in that series.

Root played in the Champions Trophy. He helped England reach the final by scoring important runs. The ICC named him as 12th man in the Team of the Tournament.

Root was chosen to open the batting for the Ashes series against Australia. He scored 180 runs in the second Test. He also took key wickets, earning him the Man of the Match award. England won the Ashes series.

Root in training in Australia

In the return Ashes series in Australia (2013-14), England lost 5-0. Root struggled with his batting form during this tough tour.

2014: Success Against West Indies, Sri Lanka & India

Root had a great tour of the West Indies in 2014. He scored his first ODI century, hitting 107 runs. He was named Man of the Match and Player of the Series. However, he broke his thumb and missed the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

Joe Root batting against Sri Lanka at Lords, June 2014

Against Sri Lanka in 2014, Root scored an amazing 200 not out in a Test match at Lord's. He became the fourth youngest English batsman to score a double century.

Root continued his excellent form against India. He scored his fourth Test century, an unbeaten 154. He and James Anderson set a world record for a 10th-wicket partnership, scoring 198 runs together. Root scored another century in the final Test, helping England win the series 3–1. The ICC named him in their World Test XI for 2014.

He also scored a match-winning 113 in an ODI against India. Later in 2014, he scored two more centuries in ODIs against Sri Lanka.

2015: More Records and Ashes Glory

In the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Root became the youngest English player to score a century at a World Cup.

He continued his strong Test form in the West Indies in 2015. He scored 182 not out, his first overseas Test century. This also took him past 2,000 Test runs.

Against New Zealand in 2015, Root scored two more half-centuries in Tests. In the ODI series, he scored two centuries, including 106 not out to help England chase a huge target of 350 runs. He also passed 2,000 ODI career runs.

Before the 2015 Ashes series against Australia, Root became England's vice-captain. He started the series with a century on the first day. He scored 134 runs and took key wickets, earning him the Man of the Match award. England won the Test. Root scored another century in the fourth Test, helping England win the Ashes 3–1. After this, he became the number one Test batsman in the ICC rankings. He was named Man of the Series.

Root played well against Pakistan in the UAE in 2015. He scored 85 and 71 in Tests, briefly returning to the number one spot in the ICC rankings. He also passed 3,000 Test runs. In the ODI series, he scored two half-centuries. The ICC named him in their World ODI XI for 2015.

In the 2015-16 tour of South Africa, Root scored his ninth Test century, making 110 runs. England won the series, their first win in South Africa since 2004-05. He also scored two consecutive centuries in the ODI series.

2016: T20 World Cup Heroics

Root was a star in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20. He scored 83 runs off just 44 balls against South Africa, helping England chase a record 230 runs. He was named Man of the Match. He also scored a half-century in the final against West Indies. Root finished as the third-highest scorer in the tournament.

In the Test series against Sri Lanka, Root scored 254 runs in one innings. This was his highest Test score ever. He was named Man of the Match. He also scored 89 runs in an ODI against Pakistan, helping England set a new record for the highest ever ODI score (444/3).

2016–2017: India and Champions Trophy

Root scored 124 runs in the first Test against India in 2016. He was named in the ICC World Test XI for 2016. In March 2017, he scored two centuries in ODIs against West Indies.

Root was part of the 'Team of the Tournament' at the 2017 Champions Trophy. He was the fourth-highest run-scorer as England reached the semi-finals.

Test Captaincy

Joe Root became England's Test captain on February 13, 2017. He was the 80th player to lead the team. In his first match as captain, he scored 190 runs against South Africa at Lord's. This was his 12th Test century. England won that series 3–1.

Root (centre) discusses tactics with bowlers Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson.

Ashes Series: 2017–18

Root led England in the 2017–18 Ashes series in Australia. England lost the series 4–0. Root scored five half-centuries but couldn't convert any into a century.

2018: Pakistan & India

England drew a two-match series at home against Pakistan. Later, England beat India 4–1 in a Test series. Root scored 125 runs in the final Test, his first century of 2018. He also scored two centuries in the ODI series against India.

Sri Lanka: 2018

Root became the first English captain to win a Test series in Sri Lanka since 2001. He scored 124 runs in the second Test to secure the series win. This was England's first away Test series win since 2016.

2019: Cricket World Cup

In April 2019, Root was selected for England's 2019 Cricket World Cup squad. He had a fantastic tournament, scoring two centuries and three half-centuries. He played his 250th international match for England during the World Cup.

The ICC named him in the 'Team of the Tournament' for the 2019 World Cup. They praised his consistent batting and ability to keep the scoreboard moving.

Ashes Series: 2019

Root and Ben Stokes walk out to bat on the penultimate day of the 3rd Test at Headingley.

Root captained England in the 2019 Ashes series. The series ended in a 2–2 draw, with Australia keeping the Ashes. Root scored half-centuries but again didn't reach a century in the series.

2019–20: New Zealand & South Africa

In December 2019, Root scored his first double century as England captain against New Zealand. He became the first visiting captain to score a double century there.

Root led England to a 3–1 series victory in South Africa. He called this his 'proudest result' as captain. He also took his best bowling figures (4 wickets for 87 runs) in the third Test.

2020: West Indies & Pakistan

Root missed the first Test against West Indies for the birth of his second child. He returned to captain England to a 2–1 series win. He then led England to a 1–0 series win against Pakistan.

In November 2020, Root was nominated for several major cricket awards.

2021: Sri Lanka & India

Root led England in a Test series against Sri Lanka. He scored 228 runs in the first Test, his 18th Test century. He was named Man of the Match. In the second Test, he scored 186 runs. He became the first Englishman since David Gower to score over 150 in two Tests in a row. He also passed several legends to become England's fourth-highest Test run-scorer.

In June 2021, Root played his 150th ODI match. In the same game, he reached 6,000 runs in ODI cricket. He was the fourth fastest player to reach this milestone.

Later in 2021, Root continued his amazing form against India. He scored centuries in the first three Tests. This helped him return to the top of the ICC Test batting rankings.

2021–2022: Australia and West Indies

Root's great form didn't last in the 2021–22 Ashes series. England lost the series 4–0. Despite this, he was England's top run-scorer. He scored a century in the first Test against West Indies, taking his total to 24 Test centuries.

On January 4, 2022, Root captained England for the 60th time in a Test match. This set a new record for most Tests as England captain. On April 15, 2022, after leading England 64 times, Root resigned as Test captain. He said it was a very hard decision but the right time.

After Captaincy

2022–Present

After stepping down as captain, Root continued to play brilliantly. In the 2022 series against New Zealand, he scored 115 not out in the first Test, helping England win. He scored 176 runs in the second Test. He was named Player of the Series for scoring 396 runs at an average of 99.

In a rescheduled Test against India, Root scored the winning runs with an unbeaten 142. He finished that series with over 700 runs.

In October 2024, during a Test series against Pakistan, Joe Root made history. He passed Alastair Cook to become England's highest Test run-scorer ever. He also moved into fifth place on the list of highest run-scorers in Test history. In the same innings, he scored his highest Test score of 262 runs. He also shared a record-breaking partnership of 454 runs with Harry Brook. This was the highest fourth-wicket partnership ever in Test cricket.

Personal Life

Joe Root married Carrie Cotterell in 2018. They have two children, born in 2017 and 2020.

International Centuries

Centuries against different nations

Opponent	Test	ODI	T20I
Afghanistan	—	1	—
Australia	4	—	—
Bangladesh	—	1	—
India	12	3	—
New Zealand	6	3	—
Pakistan	2	1	—
South Africa	2	2	—
Sri Lanka	6	2	—
West Indies	6	5	—
Total	38	18	—

Joe Root has scored 56 international centuries in total. This makes him the joint-sixth highest international century maker of all time.

Awards and Recognition

Joe Root has received many awards for his cricket skills:

• ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year: 2021
• ICC Test Team of the Year: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023, 2024
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 2014
• ICC ODI Team of the Year: 2015, 2018
• England Test Cricketer of the Year: 2015
• England Limited-Overs Cricketer of the Year: 2015
• He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2020 for his services to cricket.
• ICC Player of the Month: August 2021
• PCA Player of the Year: 2021
• Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2021

See also

In Spanish: Joe Root para niños