Joe Root’s transformation from a promising Yorkshire batter into one of cricket’s greatest run-scorers has been built on consistency, adaptability and an exceptional appetite for long innings. Unlike players whose reputations depend on a few explosive seasons, Root has continued adding runs and centuries across different countries, bowling attacks and phases of his career. The question “How many total centuries does Joe Root have?” has become increasingly popular as the England batter moves higher on cricket’s all-time record lists.
As of July 20, 2026, Joe Root has scored 62 centuries in international cricket. Joe Root Total Centuries collection includes 42 Test hundreds and 20 One Day International hundreds. He has not scored a century in Twenty20 International cricket.
Root’s latest international hundred came in Test cricket when he scored 123 against New Zealand in June 2026. That innings took his Test-century total to 42 and his overall international-century tally to 62.
His numbers place him among the most successful century-makers the sport has produced. More importantly, his hundreds have arrived in different situations—while batting first, chasing targets, rebuilding after collapses, playing spin in Asia and facing fast bowling in England, Australia, South Africa and the Caribbean.
This detailed article explores Joe Root total centuries by format, his first and latest hundreds, highest scores, major records, memorable innings and the possibility of him challenging some of cricket’s biggest batting milestones.
Joe Root Total Centuries at a Glance
| Category | Joe Root’s record |
|---|---|
| Total international centuries | 62 |
| Test centuries | 42 |
| ODI centuries | 20 |
| T20I centuries | 0 |
| Highest Test score | 254 |
| Highest ODI score | 166 not out |
| Highest T20I score | 90 not out |
| First Test century | 104 vs New Zealand |
| First ODI century | 107 vs West Indies |
| Latest Test century | 123 vs New Zealand |
| Latest ODI century | 111 not out vs Sri Lanka |
| Data updated | July 20, 2026 |
How Many Centuries Does Joe Root Have?
Joe Root has scored total 62 international centuries for England.
The format-wise breakdown is:
| Format | Centuries |
|---|---|
| Test cricket | 42 |
| One Day Internationals | 20 |
| Twenty20 Internationals | 0 |
| Total | 62 |
Test cricket accounts for the largest portion of Root’s centuries. His technique, concentration, fitness and ability to adjust during a long innings have made him especially successful in the five-day format.
His 20 ODI centuries are equally significant because England has traditionally produced fewer high-volume century-makers in limited-overs cricket than countries such as India, Australia and Sri Lanka. Root became the first England men’s player to reach 20 ODI hundreds.
Although he never scored a T20I century, Root was an effective T20 batter during the earlier part of his international career. His unbeaten 90 against Australia remains his highest score in the format.
Joe Root Total Test Centuries
Joe Root has scored 42 centuries in Test cricket, making the format the foundation of his batting legacy.
His Test career began in December 2012 against India in Nagpur. Batting in the middle order on a difficult surface, he immediately showed the patience and composure that would later define his career.
Root did not enter international cricket as an aggressive power-hitter. His strengths were balance, soft hands, quick footwork, strike rotation and an ability to judge length early. These qualities allowed him to succeed against both pace and spin.
As his career progressed, he became more attacking without losing his technical foundation. His sweeps, reverse sweeps, back-foot punches, late cuts and controlled drives made him difficult to contain.
Joe Root’s First Test Century
Joe Root scored his maiden Test century against New Zealand at Headingley in May 2013.
He made 104 runs, becoming the first Yorkshire-born player to score his maiden Test hundred at Headingley. The innings was particularly meaningful because Headingley was Root’s home ground.
The century arrived only a few months after his international debut. It confirmed that England had discovered more than a dependable middle-order player. Root had the temperament and technical ability to become a long-term international batter.
He handled New Zealand’s pace attack confidently and showed considerable maturity for a player at the beginning of his career.
The 104 was the first chapter in a century journey that would eventually carry him beyond every previous England Test batter.
Joe Root’s Latest Test Century
Root’s latest Test century was 123 against New Zealand in June 2026.
The innings was his 42nd Test hundred and took his international total to 62 centuries. It also came during a demanding match in which Root had additional responsibility within England’s changing Test setup.
By this stage of his career, Root had already passed 14,000 Test runs and become the second-highest run-scorer in the history of the format. Yet the 123 demonstrated that his desire to build substantial innings had not disappeared.
The innings contained the qualities associated with Root at his best: quick singles, controlled aggression, excellent footwork against spin and the ability to punish bowlers when they missed their lengths.
His 42nd hundred moved him beyond Ricky Ponting’s tally of 41 Test centuries and placed him alone in third position on the men’s all-time Test-century list.
Joe Root’s Highest Test Score
Joe Root’s highest Test score is 254, made against Pakistan at Old Trafford in July 2016.
It remains one of the most complete innings of his career. Root batted for more than ten hours and struck 27 boundaries as England built a dominant first-innings total.
The innings required concentration as much as shot-making. Pakistan possessed a varied attack featuring pace, seam movement and quality spin. Root remained patient during disciplined periods before accelerating whenever scoring opportunities appeared.
England won the match by 330 runs, and Root was named Player of the Match.
The 254 remains his only Test score above 250, although he has produced several other double centuries during his career.
Joe Root’s Double Centuries in Test Cricket
Root has converted a number of his Test hundreds into double centuries. These innings have come in different conditions and against different opponents.
Some of his most notable double hundreds include:
- 200 not out against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 2014
- 254 against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 2016
- 226 against New Zealand at Hamilton in 2019
- 228 against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2021
- 218 against India at Chennai in 2021
- 262 against Pakistan at Multan in 2024
Double centuries reveal a different level of batting concentration. Reaching 100 is a major achievement, but continuing beyond 200 requires a batter to manage fatigue, changing conditions, revised bowling plans and long periods of pressure.
Root’s double centuries have often arrived when England needed him to control the innings rather than simply attack.
Joe Root’s 100th Test Century
Root played his 100th Test match against India in Chennai in February 2021 and celebrated the occasion by scoring a double century.
He made 218 in England’s first innings. The performance was remarkable because few players have scored a century in their 100th Test, and Root became the first to convert such an innings into a double hundred.
The knock followed scores of 228 and 186 during England’s preceding series in Sri Lanka. Root entered the India series in outstanding form and maintained it against an experienced attack in challenging subcontinental conditions.
His success during that period changed how many observers viewed his career. Root had always been considered an excellent batter, but his volume of major centuries from 2021 onward pushed him into discussions involving the greatest Test batters of all time.
Joe Root’s Total Centuries as England Captain
Joe Root served as England’s Test captain between 2017 and 2022.
During his captaincy, he scored 14 Test centuries. The responsibility of leading the team did not prevent him from remaining England’s most dependable batter, although there were periods when the demands of captaincy appeared exhausting.
Root produced some of his finest batting during the final phase of his captaincy. In 2021, he scored six Test centuries and carried an England batting order that frequently struggled around him.
Stepping down as captain in 2022 allowed him to focus fully on batting. He immediately responded with important centuries against New Zealand and India.
His post-captaincy period has been one of the most productive phases of his career.
Joe Root Becomes England’s Leading Test Century-Maker
For many years, Alastair Cook held the record for the most Test centuries by an England batter with 33.
Root equalled and then passed Cook during England’s 2024 home Test series against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. He scored centuries in both innings of the match, moving first to 33 and then to 34.
The achievement was especially fitting because Cook had been Root’s captain during the beginning of his international career. The two also shared several important partnerships for England.
Root has since extended the record to 42 Test centuries, creating a substantial gap between himself and the other leading England batters.
Joe Root’s Position Among the Most Test Centuries
With 42 Test hundreds, Joe Root occupies third place among men’s Test-century makers.
| Position | Player | Test centuries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 51 |
| 2 | Jacques Kallis | 45 |
| 3 | Joe Root | 42 |
| 4 | Ricky Ponting | 41 |
Root first drew level with Ponting by scoring his 41st Test hundred against Australia in Sydney in January 2026. He made 160 in that innings.
He moved ahead of Ponting a few months later with his 123 against New Zealand.
Root now requires three more centuries to equal Jacques Kallis and four to move ahead of the South African great. Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 remains further away, but Root’s continued form keeps the possibility of a challenge alive.
Joe Root ODI Centuries
Joe Root has scored 20 centuries in One Day International cricket.
He is England’s leading ODI run-scorer and the first England men’s player to reach 20 hundreds in the format.
Root’s ODI batting style is built around control rather than constant power-hitting. He rotates the strike, runs hard between the wickets and targets spaces instead of relying only on sixes.
This approach has made him especially valuable at number three. When England loses an early wicket, Root can stabilise the innings. When the openers provide a fast start, he can maintain momentum and create a platform for the power-hitters who follow.
His ability to adapt his tempo has allowed him to score ODI centuries in both high-scoring matches and difficult chases.
Joe Root’s First ODI Century
Root scored his first ODI century against West Indies in Antigua in March 2014.
He made 107 runs despite suffering a painful blow to his thumb early in the innings. Rather than retiring or allowing the injury to disrupt his concentration, Root batted through the discomfort.
His century helped England reach 303 for six. England then won the match by 25 runs and secured the series.
The innings demonstrated several qualities that later became central to Root’s career: resilience, concentration and the ability to score without taking unnecessary risks.
Joe Root’s Latest ODI Century
Root’s latest ODI century was an unbeaten 111 against Sri Lanka in Colombo on January 27, 2026.
It was his 20th hundred in the format and made him the first England batter to reach that landmark.
England had lost early wickets and required someone to control the innings. Root initially focused on rebuilding before increasing his scoring rate later.
He finished unbeaten on 111 from 108 balls, while Harry Brook struck an explosive unbeaten 136. Their partnership carried England to 357 for three, and the team won the match by 53 runs to secure the series.
Root followed that century with several half-centuries. During England’s July 2026 ODI series against India, he remained unbeaten in all three innings, scoring 76, 99 and 74.
The unbeaten 99 left him one run short of a possible 21st ODI century, but he prioritised completing England’s chase rather than focusing on the personal landmark.
Joe Root’s Highest ODI Score
Joe Root’s highest ODI score is 166 not out, made against West Indies in Cardiff in June 2025.
England was chasing a demanding target, and Root constructed one of the finest limited-overs innings of his career.
He began carefully, assessed the conditions and built partnerships before accelerating. His final score of 166 not out came from 139 deliveries.
The innings carried England to victory and also took Root past 7,000 ODI runs. During the same match, he became England’s highest run-scorer in men’s ODI cricket.
The 166 demonstrated that Root could do more than anchor an innings. Once established, he could increase his scoring rate and dominate an attack without abandoning his natural technique.
Joe Root Total World Cup Centuries
Root has been an important performer for England in multiple ODI World Cups.
His first World Cup century came against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 2015. He scored 121 and became the youngest England batter at that time to make a World Cup hundred.
Although England lost that match and experienced a disappointing tournament, Root’s innings showed that he could perform on the global stage.
During the 2019 World Cup, he scored centuries against Pakistan and West Indies. He finished as England’s leading run-scorer in the tournament and played an important role in the country winning its first men’s ODI World Cup.
Root’s World Cup hundreds are significant because they came under greater pressure than a normal bilateral match. Tournament games offer limited recovery time, and every result can influence qualification.
Why Root Has Been So Successful in ODI Cricket
Root’s ODI success is based on several interconnected skills.
He is one of the best strike-rotators of his generation. Bowlers find it difficult to build pressure because Root regularly turns good deliveries into singles.
He is also comfortable against spin, which is important for a number-three batter who often plays through the middle overs. His sweeps, reverse sweeps and use of the crease prevent spinners from settling into predictable lines.
Root does not require constant boundaries to maintain a healthy scoring rate. He can build an innings through placement and running before attacking during the final stages.
Most importantly, he understands match situations. He rarely bats at one fixed tempo. His approach changes according to the target, pitch, wickets remaining and strength of the batters around him.
Joe Root Total T20I Centuries
Joe Root did not score a century in T20 International cricket.
He played 32 T20Is for England and scored 893 runs. His highest score was 90 not out against Australia at Southampton in 2013.
Although he never reached three figures, Root was an important member of England’s T20 side during the middle of the 2010s.
He played a memorable innings of 83 from 44 balls against South Africa during the 2016 T20 World Cup. England successfully chased 230 in that match, with Root controlling the chase after an aggressive start.
He also scored a fifty in the 2016 T20 World Cup final against West Indies.
Root gradually lost his regular place as England moved toward a more power-oriented T20 batting lineup. His absence of a T20I hundred should not be interpreted as an inability to succeed in the format. His average, tournament performances and adaptability showed that he could be highly effective.
Joe Root Total International Centuries by Format
Root’s 62 international centuries are distributed across the formats as follows:
| Format | Centuries | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | 42 | 67.74% |
| ODIs | 20 | 32.26% |
| T20Is | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 62 | 100% |
Almost two-thirds of Root’s centuries have come in Test cricket.
That distribution reflects both his personal strengths and his career opportunities. Root has played far more Test innings than T20I innings and has remained a permanent member of England’s red-ball team throughout his career.
His ODI total remains outstanding because modern England selection and scheduling have occasionally reduced the number of bilateral matches available to senior multi-format players.
Joe Root’s 62 Centuries Compared with Jacques Kallis
Root’s 42nd Test century took his overall international tally to 62, drawing him level with Jacques Kallis.
Kallis scored 45 Test hundreds and 17 ODI hundreds, while Root reached the same overall total through 42 Test and 20 ODI centuries.
Their batting styles and career roles were different. Kallis was a world-class all-rounder who also took hundreds of international wickets. Root has played primarily as a specialist batter, although he has contributed useful off-spin.
Matching Kallis’ century total is still a remarkable achievement because the South African is widely regarded as one of the most complete cricketers in history.
Joe Root Versus the Fab Four
Root is commonly grouped with Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson as part of cricket’s modern “Fab Four.”
Each player has a distinctive batting style.
Kohli is known for his intensity, chase mastery and success across formats. Smith has an unconventional technique and an exceptional Test record. Williamson is admired for his calmness and precision, while Root combines classical technique with creative stroke play.
Root has built the largest Test run aggregate among the group and now owns the highest Test-century count among them.
His heavy Test schedule has provided more opportunities, but longevity alone does not guarantee centuries. Root has maintained the technique, fitness and hunger required to use those opportunities.
Most Memorable Joe Root Centuries
Selecting the best innings from more than 60 centuries is difficult, but certain performances stand out because of their quality or historical importance.
180 Against Australia at Lord’s, 2013
Root’s 180 during the 2013 Ashes established him as one of England’s most exciting young batters.
Opening the innings, he survived a demanding start before taking control. England won the match comfortably, and Root received the Player of the Match award.
200 Not Out Against Sri Lanka, 2014
Root’s unbeaten 200 at Lord’s was his first Test double century.
He displayed patience, technical control and the ability to bat with the lower order. The innings confirmed that he could convert a normal hundred into a major score.
254 Against Pakistan, 2016
This remains Root’s highest Test score.
The innings combined concentration with fluent stroke play and helped England achieve a dominant victory at Old Trafford.
218 Against India, 2021
Root produced a double century in his 100th Test while facing India in Chennai.
The innings came in demanding conditions and completed a remarkable sequence of large scores in Asia.
180 Not Out Against India, 2021
Root carried his bat through England’s innings at Lord’s and remained unbeaten on 180.
Although England eventually lost the match, his performance was a masterclass in controlling an innings while wickets fell around him.
142 Not Out Against India, 2022
Root’s unbeaten 142 helped England complete a record chase of 378 at Edgbaston.
He and Jonny Bairstow dominated India’s bowlers in an unbroken partnership, making a difficult target appear surprisingly manageable.
262 Against Pakistan, 2024
Root’s 262 at Multan was part of a record partnership with Harry Brook.
England produced an enormous first-innings total, with Root once again demonstrating his ability to bat for long periods in Asian conditions.
160 Against Australia, 2026
Root’s 41st Test century came at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
It was his second hundred of that Ashes tour and took him level with Ricky Ponting on the all-time Test-century list.
123 Against New Zealand, 2026
This innings became Root’s 42nd Test century.
It carried him ahead of Ponting and took his overall international total to 62 hundreds.
What Makes Joe Root Such a Consistent Century-Maker?
Root’s success cannot be explained through one technical feature.
His balance at the crease allows him to react late. He rarely commits his body too early, which gives him additional time against seam and spin.
His back-foot play is another major strength. Root can punch good-length deliveries through point or cover without forcing the shot.
Against spin, he uses different forms of the sweep to disturb line and length. He can play the conventional sweep, reverse sweep or paddle while also advancing down the pitch.
Root is also physically fit. Long Test innings require repeated concentration, running and decision-making. His endurance helps him maintain technique after several hours at the crease.
Perhaps his greatest quality is his ability to learn. Root has experienced periods when he regularly reached 50 without converting. Instead of allowing that problem to define his career, he improved his conversion rate and began producing centuries more frequently.
Can Joe Root Reach 50 Test Centuries?
Root needs eight more Test centuries to reach 50.
Whether he achieves the milestone will depend on his form, fitness, England’s schedule and how long he chooses to continue playing.
His technique does not depend heavily on raw power or extremely fast reflexes. This may help him remain effective later into his career.
However, Test cricket is physically demanding. Long series, travel and the pressure of maintaining elite performance can become increasingly challenging with age.
Reaching 50 would place Root in an extremely exclusive category. Only Sachin Tendulkar has scored more than 50 Test centuries.
The milestone is possible, but it should not be treated as guaranteed.
Can Joe Root Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Century Record?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 51 Test centuries.
Root has 42 and therefore requires nine more to equal Tendulkar and ten to move ahead.
The challenge is significant. Root would need to remain fit, retain his place and continue scoring hundreds over several future series.
He has already demonstrated that he can score multiple centuries within a year. If he continues playing Test cricket for several more seasons, the record may come within reach.
Even if Root does not pass Tendulkar, finishing near the Indian legend’s total would represent an extraordinary achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions: Joe Root Total Centuries
Joe Root has 62 centuries in international cricket as of July 20, 2026.
Joe Root has scored 42 Test centuries.
Joe Root has scored 20 ODI centuries.
No. Joe Root has not scored a T20I century. His highest T20I score is 90 not out.
His highest Test score is 254 against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 2016.
His highest ODI score is 166 not out against West Indies in Cardiff in 2025.
He scored his first Test century against New Zealand at Headingley in May 2013. He made 104.
He scored his first ODI century against West Indies in Antigua in March 2014. He made 107.
His latest international century was 123 against New Zealand in Test cricket in June 2026.
Joe Root has 42 Test centuries, while Ricky Ponting finished with 41.
Root scored 14 Test centuries while serving as England captain.
Root has produced several Test double centuries, including scores of 200 not out, 254, 226, 228, 218 and 262.
Reaching 100 would require another 38 international hundreds. While mathematically possible, it would be an extremely difficult target at this stage of his career.
Yes. Root holds England’s record for the most Test centuries and ODI centuries in men’s international cricket.
Conclusion
Joe Root has scored 62 international centuries, consisting of 42 Test hundreds and 20 ODI hundreds. He has not scored a T20I century.
His maiden Test hundred was a score of 104 against New Zealand at Headingley in 2013, while his first ODI century was 107 against West Indies in Antigua in 2014.
Root’s highest Test score is 254 against Pakistan, and his highest ODI score is an unbeaten 166 against West Indies.
His latest ODI hundred was 111 not out against Sri Lanka in January 2026. His latest Test hundred—and latest international century—was 123 against New Zealand in June 2026.
The 42nd Test century moved Root ahead of Ricky Ponting and into sole third position on the men’s all-time Test-century list. It also lifted his overall international total to 62, level with Jacques Kallis.
Root’s career has developed through technical improvement, physical endurance and a growing ability to turn promising starts into match-defining innings. He has succeeded as a young batter, a captain, a former captain and an experienced senior player.
The next major targets are clear. Root needs three Test centuries to equal Jacques Kallis, eight to reach 50 and nine to draw level with Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51.
Whether he reaches those landmarks remains to be seen. What is already certain is that Joe Root Total Centuries record has secured his position among England’s greatest cricketers and the most productive batters in international cricket history.
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