Joe Root reaches 23,000 international runs in Durham, second-fastest to the mark

Joe Root became the second-fastest batter to reach 23,000 international runs in England’s first ODI against Sri Lanka at Durham on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He achieved the landmark in 521 innings, moving ahead of Sachin Tendulkar’s 522 and trailing only Virat Kohli, who reached the mark in 490 innings.

The milestone came during an innings in which Root scored 44 off 52 balls, hitting five fours. He began cautiously and then settled, rotating the strike and taking boundaries when chances presented themselves. Root’s progress against both the pace and spin elements of Sri Lanka’s attack underpinned his composed stay at the crease.

He opened his boundary account with a wristy whip through mid-wicket and followed with two fluent drives through the off side against Asitha Fernando. Root also showed skill against spin, using singles to keep the scoreboard moving and bringing out a reverse sweep against Dunith Wellalage. Those shots formed the core of his 44-run contribution.

Root took a single off Dushmantha Chameera that contributed to England reaching the 100-run mark. He maintained the role of an anchor after that point, continuing to rotate strike and find the boundary when opportunities arose. His innings provided a platform in the middle overs for the England innings.

Root’s stay at the crease ended when debutant Sachindu Colombage delivered a ball that landed on a relatively shorter length, gripped and turned sharply. The delivery beat Root’s outside edge and struck the top of off stump. Colombage was awarded his maiden ODI wicket as a result.

Root now has 23,041 international runs and sits eighth on the all-time list. He is 1,167 runs behind Rahul Dravid, who occupies seventh place with 24,208 runs.