In the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series at the Gabba, Joe Root played one of his best Test innings till date, a hard-earned 135, which ended his long-standing century record on Australian soil. The knock did not only save England a disastrous 5/2, but it also catapulted Root into the list of batters with the most Test hundreds.
At this ton, Root has passed 40 Test centuries, and has superseded such legends as Kumar Sangakkara and Brian Lara. His consistency, flexibility and durability still set the pace of accomplishing what a contemporary Test batter can accomplish.
| Rank | Player | Country | Test Hundreds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 51 |
| 2 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 45 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 41 |
| 4 | Joe Root | England | 40 |
| 5 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 38 |
| 6 | Steve Smith | Australia | 36 |
| 6 | Rahul Dravid | India | 36 |
| 7 | Younis Khan | Pakistan | 34 |
| 8 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 34 |
| 9 | Sunil Gavaskar | India | 34 |
| 10 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 34 |
How Many Tons Does Joe Root Need to Beat Sachin Tendulkar’s Record?
Joe Root has 40 Test hundreds now which makes him only 11 tons short of the longstanding world record by Sachin Tendulkar of 51 Test centuries. Although the milestone remains a challenging one, it is no longer inconceivable. Root is in fine condition, England still play large amounts of Test cricket, and his technique has not diminished. Assuming that he continues to play at the current level of score and fitness, it is possible that Root may end his career between 45 and 52 Test hundreds. This makes his quest to take the record of Tendulkar one of the most eventful plots in the contemporary Test cricket.
