Most centuries in Tests: Joe Root goes level with Ricky Ponting at joint-third

Joe Root notched up his 41st Test hundred on Day 2 of the final Ashes Test in Sydney on Monday to go level with Australia’s Ricky Ponting at joint-third for most hundreds in the longest format.

Only Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) have scored more Test hundreds than Root.

This was Root’s second hundred of the ongoing Ashes, after his ton in Brisbane in the second Test.

The former England skipper, who is closing in on 14,000 runs in Test, is currently the second-highest run scorer in the format and has set his sights on Tendulkar’s record tally of 15,921 runs.

Most centuries in Test matches

• Sachin Tendulkar – 51 centuries in 329 innings
• Jacques Kallis – 45 centuries in 280 innings
• Ricky Ponting – 41 centuries in 287 innings
• Joe Root – 41 centuries in 297 innings
• Kumar Sangakkara – 38 centuries in 233 innings

Published on Jan 05, 2026