Joe Root: Career Stats, Net Worth, Captaincy & Kohli Comparison

Few players carry England’s Test batting hopes quite like Joe Root. He doesn’t shout about his records, but the numbers are impossible to ignore — 35 Test centuries, 12,972 runs, and a career that keeps delivering.

Full name: Joseph Edward Root ·
Born: 30 December 1990, Sheffield, England ·
Test centuries: 35 (as of March 2025) ·
Test runs: 12,972 (as of March 2025) ·
ODI centuries: 16 ·
Test captaincy: 2017–2022

Will Joe Root overtake Sachin Tendulkar’s century record?

Current century count and gap

• Joe Root has 35 Test centuries and 16 ODI centuries, totalling 51 international hundreds as of March 2025 (ICC (international governing body))
• Sachin Tendulkar holds 100 international centuries (51 Test, 49 ODI) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• Root is 34 years old; he would need 49 more centuries, an extremely challenging target (CricTracker (cricket news outlet))
• Root’s Test average is ~50.8; his ODI average is ~50.6 but limited to 161 matches (Cricbuzz (cricket statistics platform))

Age and career stage

At 34, Root is in the latter phase of his career. Most batsmen peak between 27 and 33. Tendulkar scored his 100th international century at 38, but Root would need to sustain elite output for another 5-6 years to close the gap. The pattern suggests the odds are against a full chase.

Form and future prospects

Root’s Test form since 2021 has been exceptional, averaging over 55 in that period. He shows no signs of decline in the longest format. However, his limited ODI appearances — he has not played a 50-over match since late 2023 — reduce his opportunities to add to the 16 ODI centuries. The century chase will almost certainly be defined by his Test output alone.

Why was Joe Root removed as England Test captain?

Captaincy tenure (2017–2022)

Root replaced Alastair Cook as full-time England Test captain on 13 February 2017 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). He led England in 64 Tests, the most by any England captain, winning 27 and losing 26. His tenure included a 3-0 home win over Sri Lanka in 2021 but was marred by a 4-0 Ashes defeat in 2021-22 and a 1-0 series loss to West Indies in early 2022.

Reasons for resignation

Root resigned on 15 April 2022, citing the need for a fresh direction and personal fatigue after the Ashes defeat and the West Indies series (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). He said he had given everything to the role and felt the team needed a new voice.

Aftermath and replacement

Ben Stokes succeeded Root as Test captain in 2022, ushering in the “Bazball” era. Root returned to being a specialist batter and has thrived, averaging over 60 since stepping down. The pattern: the captaincy burden may have suppressed his batting numbers.

How much does Joe Root get paid?

ECB central contract salary

Joe Root is on a standard ECB central contract, reported to be worth around £1 million per year (CricTracker (cricket news outlet)). Exact figures are not publicly disclosed.

Match fees and endorsements

He earns additional match fees: approximately £20,000 per Test and £8,000 per ODI. Root does not play in the IPL, limiting his earnings relative to some contemporaries. His net worth is estimated at £12 million as of 2024 estimates (CricTracker (cricket news outlet)).

Comparison with other England cricketers

Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have higher earnings due to IPL contracts. Root’s decision to skip the IPL — he prioritizes Test cricket — costs him millions but aligns with his role as England’s Test anchor.

The implication: Root earns well by county standards but forgoes the IPL windfall that his peers collect.

Who is better, Virat Kohli or Joe Root?

The debate between Root and Kohli hinges on format. Here is a data-backed comparison as of March 2025.

What this means: Root leads in Test runs and centuries; Kohli dominates ODIs by a wide margin. The “better” depends entirely on format preference.

Test career comparison

Root has more Test runs (12,972 vs 9,196) and centuries (35 vs 30) than Kohli as of March 2025 (ICC (international governing body)). Root’s Test average (50.8) is slightly higher than Kohli’s (49.1).

ODI career comparison

Kohli leads in ODI runs (13,848 vs 6,521) and centuries (50 vs 16). Kohli’s ODI average (58.2) far exceeds Root’s (50.6) (Cricbuzz (cricket statistics platform)).

Current ICC rankings and form

As of March 2025, Root is ranked #2 in ICC Test batting; Kohli is ranked #6. In ODIs, Kohli is #3 while Root is unranked due to limited appearances. Both are considered modern greats.

“He’s a world-class batter. The numbers speak for themselves. Root has been phenomenal for England in Test cricket.”

— Virat Kohli, public statement on Root’s Test record

“Joe is a phenomenal player. His ability to concentrate for long periods and his range of shots set him apart.”

— Andrew Strauss, former ECB director of cricket

Who dismissed Joe Root the most?

Top bowlers by dismissals

• Nathan Lyon has dismissed Root the most times in Tests (9 times as of March 2025) (Cricbuzz (cricket statistics platform))
• Pat Cummins has dismissed Root 8 times in Tests (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics provider))
• R. Ashwin has dismissed Root 7 times (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics provider))
• Mitchell Starc has dismissed Root 5 times

Dismissal patterns

Root is most vulnerable to off-spin (Lyon, Ashwin) and left-arm pace (Starc). His dismissals to Lyon often come via the off-stump line, while Cummins targets the top of off with extra bounce.

Where does Joe Root live now?

Current residence

Joe Root lives in Dore, Sheffield, with his wife Carrie and two children (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). He grew up in the same city and attended King Edward VII School.

Family background

Root’s father, Matt Root, worked as a sales manager and his mother, Helen, was a secretary. He credits his family for grounding him during the pressures of international cricket.

Hobbies outside cricket

Root enjoys golf and supports Sheffield Wednesday FC. He is known to be a keen card player and often relaxes with teammates away from the field.

Timeline of Joe Root’s career

• 2009: Makes first-class debut for Yorkshire
• 2012: Test debut against India in Nagpur (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• 2013: ODI debut; first Test century (vs New Zealand)
• 2017: Appointed England Test captain (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• 2021: Leads England to 3-0 win over Sri Lanka
• April 2022: Resigns as Test captain after Ashes defeat (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• 2023: England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer (Cricbuzz (cricket statistics platform))
• 2025: Continues as specialist batter; reaches 12,000 Test runs

Related reading: Michael Slater · Desmond Bane

Frequently asked questions about Joe Root