# Joe Root Hits 23,000 International Runs in First ODI Against Sri Lanka, Becoming England's First Cricketer to Enter Elite Club

> During the series opener against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street, Joe Root became the first English batter and eighth cricketer in history to amass 23,000 international runs across all formats.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Cricket · **Published:** 2026-09-22 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/sri-lanka-ke-khilapha-pahale-vanade-men-joe-root-ne-banaya-mahakirtimana-antararashtriya-kriketa-men-23-hajara-rana-jutane-vale-pa-36708 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Joe Root, England Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, England vs Sri Lanka, ODI Cricket, Cricket Records

Veteran English batter Joe Root carved out a monumental milestone in world cricket during the opening ODI against Sri Lanka at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, England encountered early trouble with the loss of their opening wicket inside the third over. Walking in under pressure, Root needed just 3 runs to touch the 23,000-run barrier in international cricket, and he achieved the mark early in his innings. The feat makes Root the first player from England to cross 23,000 international runs, and only the eighth batter across the globe to reach this prestigious benchmark across combined formats.

## Joining Sachin Tendulkar and Modern Cricket Legends
Root now sits alongside the most celebrated names in the history of the sport. India's Sachin Tendulkar stands at the pinnacle of the all-time international run-scoring leaderboard with an astonishing tally of 34,357 runs. India's Virat Kohli follows in second position having accumulated 28,359 runs. Sri Lankan maestro Kumar Sangakkara occupies the third spot with 28,016 runs, while Australia's Ricky Ponting sits fourth with 27,483 runs. Former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene holds fifth place with 25,957 runs. South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis amassed 25,534 runs to sit sixth, followed by India's Rahul Dravid in seventh with 24,208 runs. Root has now officially entered this exclusive club as its eighth member.

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## Statistical Breakdown Across All Three Formats
Root's longevity and consistency across different international formats have established him as England's premier run-getter. The traditional red-ball arena remains the cornerstone of his career, with the right-hander piling up 14,278 runs in Test cricket. In fifty-over cricket, Root has been a dependable anchor, compiling 7,829 runs in ODIs. While his appearances in the shortest format have been comparatively limited, he has contributed 893 runs in T20 internationals. Combining his tallies across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is carried him over the historic 23,000-run threshold.

## Confirmed Lineups for the Series Opener
Both sides announced strong starting selections for the encounter in Chester-le-Street. Sri Lanka's playing eleven featured Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, captain and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Sachindu Colombage, Asitha Fernando, and Dilshan Madushanka.

England fielded a lineup consisting of Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, captain Harry Brook, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and Josh Tongue.

## What this means for you
This landmark achievement marks an important historical moment for cricket followers around the world.

- **For cricket fans:** Joe Root cements his stature among the greatest batters of the modern era. Followers will now track his pursuit toward higher positions on the all-time international aggregates.
- **For the England team:** Root's relentless scoring offers tremendous stability to the English middle order. His proven consistency across conditions provides vital assurance during multi-format transition phases.
- **For international records:** Entering the eight-member club puts Root on track to target the 24,000-run threshold. Continued appearances could see him challenge Rahul Dravid's mark of 24,208 international runs.
- **For the ongoing series:** Reaching a historic milestone at the start of the series gives England an immediate psychological lift. Dislodging Root will remain the highest tactical priority for Sri Lankan bowlers throughout the fixtures.

## Why this happened
This milestone represents the culmination of Joe Root's decade-and-a-half career defined by technical adaptability and sustained scoring across all formats.

- **Early fall of wicket:** England lost their opening batsman inside the third over at Chester-le-Street. This early breakthrough brought Root to the crease in the opening phase of the innings.
- **Tiny pre-match deficit:** Root entered the contest needing just 3 runs to cross the 23,000-run mark. He secured the necessary runs within minutes of arriving at the wicket to seal the record.
- **Massive Test run base:** The foundation of this aggregate is Root's staggering Test tally of 14,278 runs. His sustained run-scoring in red-ball cricket made reaching the overall 23,000 international threshold inevitable.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. In which match did Joe Root complete 23,000 international runs?
He reached the milestone during the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street.

### 2. How many runs did Root need at the start of the match to reach the mark?
He required just 3 runs in the match to cross the 23,000-run milestone.

### 3. Who leads the all-time international run-scoring chart?
India's Sachin Tendulkar holds the top spot with 34,357 international runs.

### 4. What are Joe Root's individual totals in Test and ODI formats?
Root has scored 14,278 runs in Test matches and 7,829 runs in one-day internationals.

### 5. How many cricketers worldwide have scored 23,000 or more international runs?
A total of eight cricketers in world cricket history have reached or exceeded 23,000 international runs.

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