Joe Root facts for kids

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Joe Root

Root in 2017

Personal information

Full name

Joseph Edward Root

Born

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 batsman

Relations

Billy Root (brother)

International information

National side

England (2012–present)

Test debut (cap 655)

13 December 2012 v India

Last Test

14 December 2024 v New Zealand

ODI debut (cap 227)

11 January 2013 v India

Last ODI

11 November 2023 v Pakistan

ODI shirt no.

T20I debut (cap 63)

22 December 2012 v India

Last T20I

5 May 2019 v Pakistan

T20I shirt no.

Domestic team information

Years

Team

2009–present

Yorkshire

2018/19

Sydney Thunder

2021–

Trent Rockets

2023

Dubai Capitals

2023

Rajasthan Royals

2024–

Paarl Royals

Career statistics

Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	152	171	225	209
Runs scored	12,972	6,522	18,027	7,735
Batting average	50.87	47.60	50.07	46.04
100s/50s	36/65	16/39	50/86	17/47
Top score	262	133*	262	133*
Balls bowled	5,851	1,638	8,568	2,201
Wickets	71	27	97	40
Bowling average	45.36	58.77	47.54	51.60
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	207/–	85/–	256/–	97/–

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, 17 December 2024

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 English cricket team and used to be their Test captain. He also plays for Yorkshire in England.

Joe Root is one of the best batsmen of his time. He has scored more runs than any other active batsman. He is also the fifth highest run-scorer ever in Test cricket. For England, he holds the record for the most runs scored in Test matches. Many people think he is one of England's greatest ever batsmen.

He was a key player when England won the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He was England's top scorer in that tournament. As of July 2024, he has been ranked as the world's best Test batsman nine times.

Root started playing Test matches in 2012 and One Day Internationals (ODIs) in 2013. He was the captain of England's Test team from February 2017 to April 2022. He holds records for captaining the most Test matches (64), winning the most (27), and losing the most (26) as England's captain.

In 2018, he was named in England's all-time greatest Test team. This was to celebrate England's 1,000th Test match. In 2021, he won two big awards: ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year and the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World.

Root is a right-handed batsman. He used to open the batting but now mostly plays in the middle of the batting order. He has scored the most Test centuries (36) and ODI centuries (16) for England. In June 2022, he became only the second English player to score 10,000 Test runs.

He also holds a world record with Harry Brook for the highest fourth-wicket partnership in Tests (454 runs). With James Anderson, he set a record for the highest tenth-wicket partnership (198 runs). Root is also England's top run-scorer in the ICC World Cup. He is the only English player to score over 1000 runs in this competition. Sometimes, he also bowls off spin to take wickets.

Early Life and Cricket Beginnings

Joe Root grew up in Dore, Sheffield. His parents are Helen and Matt Root. His younger brother, Billy, also plays professional cricket for Glamorgan.

Joe went to Dore Primary and King Ecgbert School in Sheffield. When he was 15, he got a cricket scholarship to Worksop College. He stayed there during the week.

He joined Sheffield Collegiate CC, just like his father. Michael Vaughan, a former Yorkshire and England captain, also played there. Vaughan was a big inspiration for Root. Joe won the Player of the Tournament award at the famous Bunbury Festival. Joe Root is a fan of Sheffield United F.C..

Playing for Yorkshire

Root started playing for the Yorkshire second team on July 18, 2007. He scored 57 runs in his first game. He also played well for the academy team. He was named player of the tournament when Yorkshire’s Academy won a trophy in Abu Dhabi.

After doing well for the second team, Root got to play for the first team. This was in Yorkshire’s last Pro40 match of the season in 2009. He scored 63 runs, which was the most for Yorkshire. He said his debut was a "dream come true."

Root on his Yorkshire debut in 2009

After another great performance for England Under-19s in Bangladesh, Root signed a three-year contract with Yorkshire. He played in the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. He scored 70 not out against Hong Kong. Later, he went to a cricket academy in Adelaide, South Australia, to improve his skills.

In 2011, Root played his first County Championship match for Yorkshire. He played 15 matches that year. He also made his debut for the England Lions cricket team. In August, he scored his first Championship century against Sussex. Root was captain when Yorkshire won the 2014 County Championship title. He helped them win it again the next year.

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

In April 2022, Root was kept by the Trent Rockets for the 2022 season of The Hundred. In December 2022, the Rajasthan Royals bought him for the IPL 2023 auction.

Starting His International Career

2012-2013: England Debut

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

Root also made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut in 2012 and his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2013. He scored his first ODI fifty in India. He became the first batsman to start his ODI career with six scores over 30.

2013-2014: Big Series and First Ashes

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

Root played in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He helped England reach the final. He was named 12th man in the Team of the Tournament.

Root fielding for England in 2013

He opened the batting for England in the 2013 Ashes series against Australia. In the second Test, he scored 180 runs. He also took important wickets, earning him the Man of the Match award. England won the Ashes that year.

Root then played in the return Ashes series in Australia. England lost this series 5-0. Root struggled with his form and was even dropped for the final Test.

2014: Success in West Indies, Sri Lanka, and India

In 2014, Root scored his first ODI century against the West Indies. He made 107 runs and was named Player of the Series. However, he broke his thumb and missed the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

Later that year, he scored an amazing 200 not out against Sri Lanka in a Test match. He became the fourth youngest English batsman to score a double century.

Against India, Root 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. England won the series 3-1. Root was named in the World Test XI by the ICC for his great performances in 2014.

Key Moments in His Career

2015: World Cup, West Indies, New Zealand, and Ashes Victory

In the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Root became the youngest English player to score a century at a World Cup. He made 121 runs against Sri Lanka.

He continued his great form in the West Indies, scoring his sixth Test century (182 not out). He also passed 2,000 Test runs. England won that series.

Against New Zealand in 2015, Root scored his fifth ODI century (104 runs). He also scored his sixth ODI century (106 not out) to help England chase a big target of 350 runs. He passed 2,000 ODI career runs during this series.

Root training in Australia

Before the 2015 Ashes series, Root became England's vice-captain. He scored a century (134 runs) on the first day of the series. He also took wickets and made the winning catch in the first Test. England won the Ashes 3-2. Root was named Man of the Series. After this, he became the number one Test batsman in the world.

2016: T20 World Cup and Pakistan Series

Root played a big role 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 Man of the Match for this effort. England reached the final, where Root scored 54 runs and took two key wickets.

In a Test match against Pakistan, Root scored 254 runs. This was his highest Test score ever and the second-highest by any English player at Old Trafford. He won the Man of the Match award.

2017: Becoming Test Captain

On February 13, 2017, Joe Root became England's 80th Test captain. He replaced Alastair Cook. In his first match as captain against South Africa, he scored 190 runs. He was the sixth English player to score a Test century on his captaincy debut. England won that series 3-1.

Ashes Series and Captaincy Challenges

2017-2018: Ashes in Australia

Root captained England in the 2017–18 Ashes series in Australia. England lost the series 4-0. Root scored five half-centuries but couldn't turn any of them into centuries.

2018: Pakistan and India Series

England drew a two-match series at home against Pakistan. Later, England beat India 4-1. Root scored 125 runs in the last Test, his first century of 2018. This was also his last game with former captain Alastair Cook.

2018: Winning in Sri Lanka

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 and Ashes Draw

In April 2019, Root was named in England's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He had a great tournament, scoring two centuries and three half-centuries. He played his 250th international match for England during the World Cup. He was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' for his excellent batting.

Root and Ben Stokes walking out to bat during the 3rd Test at Headingley in 2019.

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 didn't get a century in the series.

2019-2020: New Zealand and South Africa

In December 2019, Root scored his first double century as England's captain against New Zealand. He was 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 and Pakistan Series

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

2021: Sri Lanka and India Series

In 2021, Root scored 228 runs in the first Test against Sri Lanka. He was named Man of the Match. He then scored 186 runs in the second Test. He became the first Englishman since David Gower to score over 150 in two Tests in a row. He also became England's fourth-highest Test run-scorer.

In June 2021, Root played his 150th ODI match. He also scored his 6,000th run in ODI cricket, becoming the fourth fastest player to reach this milestone.

Later in the summer, Root continued his amazing form against India. He scored centuries in the first three Tests. This put him back at the top of the ICC Test batting rankings.

2021-2022: Australia and West Indies

Root was England's top run-scorer in the 2021–22 Ashes series, but England lost 4-0. Despite calls for him to step down, he remained captain for the West Indies series. He scored another century in the first Test, bringing his total to 24 Test centuries.

On January 4, 2022, Root captained England for the 60th time. This broke the record for most Test matches as England captain. On April 15, 2022, after captaining 64 times, Root resigned as Test captain. He said it was the "most challenging decision" of his career.

After Captaincy

2022-Present: Continuing to Shine

After stepping down as captain, Root continued to perform brilliantly. In the 2022 series against New Zealand, he scored 115 not out to help England win the first Test. He scored 176 runs in the second Test and 86 not out in the third. He was named Player of the Series, scoring 396 runs at an average of 99.

Against India, Root scored the winning runs with an unbeaten 142. He finished that series with over 700 runs.

In October 2024, Root made history against Pakistan. He scored his highest Test score of 262 runs. This was his sixth double-century. During this innings, he passed Sir 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 shared a record-breaking partnership of 454 runs with Harry Brook. This was the highest fourth-wicket partnership ever in Test cricket.

International Centuries

Centuries against different nations
Opponent	Test	ODI	T20I
Australia	4	—	—
Bangladesh	—	1	—
India	10	3	—
New Zealand	6	3	—
Pakistan	2	1	—
South Africa	2	2	—
Sri Lanka	6	2	—
West Indies	6	4	—
Total	36	16	—

Joe Root has scored 52 international centuries in total. This makes him the ninth highest international century maker of all time.

Awards and Recognitions

Joe Root has received many awards for his outstanding cricket career:

ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year: 2021
ICC Test Team of the Year: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023
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 appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours. This was for his great service to cricket.
ICC Player of the Month: August (2021)
PCA Player of the Year: 2021
Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: April 2022

Images for kids

Joe Root batting against Sri Lanka at Lords, June 2014