5 big milestones Joe Root can achieve this year

Published - 07 Jan 2026, 13:29 IST | Updated - 07 Jan 2026, 13:29 IST

Joe Root has started 2026 on a stunning note, slamming a fluent century in the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, January 5.

The former England Test captain has not played a T20I since May 2019. However, he featured in the ODI side which toured New Zealand in October-November. Root, however, has been operating on a different level altogether in the red-ball circuit.

In this article, let's take a look at five big milestones the right-handed batter can achieve in the new year.

Joe Root is second on the list of most fifties scored by batters in Test cricket. The 35-year-old has 66 half-centuries to his name in 297 innings.

Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar holds the record, with 68 half-centuries from 329 innings. However, with the incredible conversion rate Root has, he might actually fall short of breaking Tendulkar's record in 2026 since he is expected to convert his half-centuries into centuries.