Joe Root eclipses Ricky Ponting to become England’s top home Test run-scorer

During Day 2 of the second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, England skipper Joe Root added 24 runs before falling lbw to Mohammad Ali, a contribution that moved him past Ricky Ponting’s home-soil record of 7,578 Test runs. Root’s new total of 7,594 runs in England eclipses Ponting and leaves him behind only Sachin Tendulkar’s 7,216 runs in India among home-ground leaders. The achievement comes from 89 Tests and 156 innings, with an average of 53.85, 24 centuries and 35 fifties, and a highest score of 254.

England maintained a strong series position, leading by 357 runs after a rain-shortened third day, with Dan Lawrence unbeaten on 50 and Ollie Robinson at the crease. Pakistan’s bowlers, notably Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali, claimed key wickets, while England’s bowlers restricted Pakistan to 110 in the first innings. The series sees England aiming to clinch the three-match contest after a previous innings victory at Headingley.