Joe Root is England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer and one of the finest batsmen of his generation. With more than 35 Test centuries, Root has surpassed Sir Alastair Cook’s England record and established himself as a genuine great of the game. Named ICC Test Player of the Year in 2021, when he scored 1,708 Test runs in a single calendar year, Root’s consistency across conditions and continents is remarkable.
Root’s batting is characterized by elegance and adaptability. A right-handed batsman with a textbook technique, he excels at rotating the strike, finding gaps, and building long innings. His sweep shot is among the best in world cricket, and his ability to score runs in the subcontinent against spin separates him from many of his contemporaries. Root also bowls useful off-spin, occasionally breaking partnerships with his part-time deliveries.
As former England Test captain from 2017 to 2022, Root led the side through a challenging period but maintained his own form at an extraordinary level. Since stepping down from the captaincy, his batting has reached new heights under Ben Stokes’s leadership, with Root free to focus entirely on scoring runs.
In 2026, Root is a central figure in England’s packed home summer. He plays in the England vs New Zealand Test series starting June 4, the India white-ball tour in July, and the England vs Pakistan Test series from August 19. Root will bat at venues including Lord’s, The Oval, Headingley, and Edgbaston. Check whatisthetime.now/country/united-kingdom for UK time during England’s home Tests.