Day 4 of the ongoing fifth test between England and India at the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 saw the likes of Joe Root and Harry Brook put in an excellent performance with the bat against the visitors. Kicking the day off on a score of 50/1, Joe Root scored 105 runs, whereas Brook amassed 111 runs as the day ended with England on a score of 339/6, needing 35 runs to win the game.
Through his century, it is worth noting that Joe Root crossed 500 runs in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. Interestingly, by doing so, the star batter Joe Root became the only player to score 500+ runs in a test series three times against the Indian team. Joe first achieved the feat back in 2014 when he scored 518 runs. Joe Root then scored 737 runs against India in 2021, and he has ended the ongoing five-game series against India with 537 runs to his name.
England’s veteran batter Joe Root became the first player in the World Test Championship history to cross the 6000-run threshold after another masterclass on the fourth day of the fifth Test against India at Kennington Oval. Joe Root, a maestro at work, with his robust technique and sublime drives, enchanted the spectators as his name reverberated throughout the stadium under London’s gloomy sky. He left no stone unturned to frustrate India seamers, bereft of his regular tormentor’s company, Jasprit Bumrah.
He stayed unruffled during England’s pursuit of a 374-run target and added another feather to his cap by crossing 6,000 runs during his 69th Test appearance in the tournament. With 20 centuries and 23 fifties, Root sits at the summit as the top run-getter, followed by Steve Smith (4,278), Marnus Labuschagne (4,225), Ben Stokes (3,616) and Travis Head (3,300) in the WTC charts.
The 34-year-old brought up his fifty by pushing the ball towards deep backwards square leg for a single. He celebrated the landmark moment with a gentle raise of the bat towards the England dressing room. He continued to pile up runs on the board and levelled former South Africa cricketer Herbie Taylor’s record for most 50-plus scores against an opponent in home Tests.
The stylish right-handed star boasts a staggering tally of 16 fifty-plus scores against India, while Taylor also boasts the exact tally but against England. Australia’s legendary Don Bradman sits at the top with 17 fifty-plus scores against their arch-rival England.
Joe Root has been on a record-shattering spree across the five Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Root took a step closer to breaking ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 15,921, the most runs by a player in the format. He transcended to the second spot and left legendary Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid behind in the list.
The prolific batter also tied Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara (38 tons) for the joint fourth-most centuries in the longer format, standing behind Ponting (41), South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (45) and Tendulkar (51). With plethora of records to his name Joe Root though being confident that England will win the test series rues the fact that he was out at the wrong time which can turn into and advantage for India.
We are in for a cracker- Joe Root
There are still “a lot of things in England’s favour” as they seek the 35 runs needed to claim a thrilling series win against India on day five of the fifth and final Test on Monday, says batter Joe Root.
The hosts, chasing a challenging 374 to win, will resume on 339-6 at The Oval after India fought back with three wickets in the evening session before bad weather ended play early.
Joe Root scored his 39th Test century in a stunning fourth-wicket partnership of 195 with Harry Brook, who added a 91-ball century of his own but Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton struggled towards the end of the day against India’s fired-up seamers.
“It is quite a fitting end for how the rest of the series has gone. It has ebbed and flowed all of the way through and this Test is exactly same,” Joe Root told BBC Test Match Special.
“We are in for a cracker, we are in a good position. We have another heavy roller available.
“Things might happen quicker with new ball, it might be easier to score.
“A lot of things are in our favour. We have so much ability left in the dressing room and clearly they have had a good passage of play but Monday could be a real good opportunity to get across the line.”
There was speculation around whether Chris Woakes would bat, considering his shoulder injury sustained on day one, but he was seen wearing his whites in the England dressing room and Joe Root said he would be prepared to bat if necessary. Joe Root was visibly frustrated at his own dismissal, punching his bat after nicking behind off Prasidh Krishna, but said it was in response to his own error rather than a response to the pair’s tense exchange on day two.
“I was really frustrated because I missed out, it was really disappointing to not still be there tonight and get us over the line.
“But we are still in a really good position, a lot of batting left and the two guys out there are very capable of seeing us home.
“It has been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey and we have the confidence in our dressing room.”
India need 4 wickets to win the final Test match at Oval and level the series. England, on the other hand, need only 35 runs to win the Test match. India had the momentum in the final session of the game, before bad light stopped play. India and its fans will be hoping for yet another spirited display of bowling from the seamers in the opening session on Monday, August 4, the final day of the Test series.
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