SYDNEY: Joe Root, the star batter of England has matched the record of the former Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, for the most Test cricket centuries. The remarkable accomplishment came during the first innings of the final Test match of Ashes series against the Australians at Sydney, where he made a fantastic score of 160 runs. The century was Root’s second in Australia, the first being during the series in the second Test.
Joe Root’s 41st Test century has put him up there with the likes of Ricky Ponting, as he has now made the century count the record being that of India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who has 51, and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis, who comes second with 45.
Not only has Root’s remarkable performance marked him as a modern-day great but he is also only 63 runs away from the 14,000-run mark, a feat that only a handful of players have accomplished. To surpass Tendulkar’s record of most runs in Tests, Root would need to accumulate an additional 1,985 runs.
A true great of the game 🏏
Joe Root moves level with ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting 📝
More 📲 https://t.co/AEFYMgudtk pic.twitter.com/JfN6kVGxrx
— ICC (@ICC) January 5, 2026
The Numbers Behind Root’s Achievement:
Root’s making of 41 centuries has been characterized by both consistency and quality, and the recent 160 he scored against Australia is a further display of his talent. His performance in the Ashes series has been a major source of inspiration for England supporters, as Root has been exhibiting the same batting skills that might bring him even more records in the future.
Naseem Shah faces fine for misconduct during ILT20 final
Meanwhile, Naseem Shah, the Pakistani fast bowler, has been penalized with a 10% fine from his match fee due to his unethical behaviour in the final match of the ILT20.
According to ILT20’s official website, Naseem Shah’s offense is under ICC Code of Conduct Article 2.5, which deals with the use of improper or abusive language, making gestures, or actions directed at the batsman to be out.
The disputed incident happened in the eleventh over of the final, where there was a war of words between Naseem Shah and Kieron Pollard, the all-rounder from the West Indies. The umpires ruled that Naseem’s reaction was out of line and not in keeping with the spirit of the game.
The ILT20 management has revealed that the player took charge, which made it unnecessary to conduct a formal hearing.
According to the ILT20 officials, the player acknowledged the offense, thus making it unnecessary to conduct a formal hearing. Hence, the penalty was imposed right away.
The event has resulted in varying opinions among cricket followers and commentators. While some argue that the players should exercise more self-control, particularly in the case of finals that are already high-pressure situations, others maintain that there is no other way but to accept that heated moments are a part of competitive sports.
