From Gavaskar to Joe Root: The 14 elites of elusive 10,000 Test runs club

Former England cricket team captain Joe Root achieved this incredible feat on the 4th day (Sunday, 5th June 2022) of the 1st Test match against New Zealand at Lord's. He nudged the ball off Tim Southee to deep square to complete a brace and achieve a double milestone – his 26th Test hundred and 10,000 Test runs. At 31 years and 157 days, Root also became the joint-youngest player to reach the milestone, equalling the record of his former teammate Alastair Cook, who also achieved the feat at exactly the same age.

India legend Sunil Gavaskar was the first to enter the elite club in 1987 and since then Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardena, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kumar Sangakkara, Alastair Cook, Yonis Khan and now Joe Root have reached the milestone. Take a look at their Test match records here:

1. India cricket great Sachin Tendulkar leads the chart with the most number of Test runs. The right-handed batsman amassed 15,921 runs from 200 matches at an average of 53.78. Tendulkar smashed 51 centuries and 68 fifties in his illustrious career. Age when he reached this milestone: 31 years and 326 days; Date: 16 March 2005

2. Ricky Ponting (Australia): 13,378 runs from 168 matches; 41 centuries and 62 fifties; Average: 51.85; Age when he reached this milestone: 33 years and 163 days; Date: 30 May 2008

3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa): 13,289 runs from 166 matches; 45 centuries and 58 fifties; Average: 55.37; Age when he reached this milestone: 33 years and 134 days; Date: 27 February 2009

4. Rahul Dravid (India): 13,288 runs from 164 matches; 36 centuries and 63 fifties; Average: 52.31; Age when he reached this milestone: 35 years and 78 days; Date: 29 March 2008

5. Alastair Cook (England): 12,472 runs from 161 matches; 33 centuries and 57 fifties; Average: 45.35; Age when he reached this milestone: 31 years and 157 days; Date: 30 May 2016

6. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 12,400 runs from 134 matches; 38 centuries and 52 fifties; Average: 57.40; Age when he reached this milestone: 35 years and 61 days; Date: 26 December 2012

7. Brian Lara (West Indies): 11,953 runs from 131 matches; 34 centuries and 48 fifties; Average: 52.88; Age when he reached this milestone: 35 years and 106 days; Date: 15 August 2004

8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) - 11,867 runs from 164 matches; 30 centuries and 66 fifties; Average: 51.37; Age when he reached this milestone: 37 years and 254 days; Date: 26 April 2012

9. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka): 11,814 runs from 149 matches; 34 centuries and 50 fifties; Average: 49.84; Age when he reached this milestone: 34 years and 213 days; Date: 26 December 2011

10. Allan Border (Australia): 11,174 runs from 156 matches; 27 centuries and 63 fifties; Average: 50.56; Age when he reached this milestone: 37 years and 159 days; Date: 2 January 1993

11. Steve Waugh (Australia): 10,927 runs from 168 matches; 32 centuries and 50 fifties; Average: 51.06; Age when he reached this milestone: 37 years and 215 days; Date: 3 January 2003

12. Sunil Gavaskar (India): 10,122 runs from 125 matches; 34 centuries and 45 fifties; Average: 51.12; Age when he reached this milestone: 37 years and 240 days; Date: 7 March 1987

13. Younis Khan (Pakistan): 10,099 runs from 118 matches; 34 centuries and 33 fifties; Average: 52.05; Age when he reached this milestone: 39 years and 145 days; Date: 23 April 2017

14. Joe Root (England): 10,015 runs from 118 matches; 26 centuries and 53 fifties; Average: 49.57; Age when he reached this milestone: 31; Date: 5 June 2022