Published on: Sep 9, 2026 5:07 pm IST|Updated on: Sep 9, 2026 5:07 pm IST
England’s Test skipper Joe Root continues to cement his status as a legendary Test cricketer. Taking the field in the 3rd Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham, Root officially earned his 169th Test cap, surpassing former Australian skipper Steve Waugh’s tally to move to the third spot.
Before the Edgbaston fixture, Root had been tied for third position alongside two Australian icons, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, all boasting 168 Test appearances. By stepping onto the carpet at Birmingham, Root edged past both stalwarts to take sole ownership of the third spot.
With Root now being the sole owner of the third spot, only two players in the history of the game remain ahead of him: fellow countryman James Anderson and India’s great Sachin Tendulkar, with 188 and 200 Test appearances, respectively.
Standing at 169 Test matches, Root remains the only active player inside the top 10 list. Given his phenomenal fitness record, consistent run-scoring form, and commitment to the longest format of the game, experts believe the 35-year-old has a realistic chance of chasing down both Anderson and Tendulkar in the years ahead.
Below is the updated list of players with the highest number of caps in Test cricket history following Root’s 169th match:
With age on his side and several Test assignments scheduled over the coming seasons, Root looks primed to break Anderson and Tendulkar’s record and take the pole position in the above list.
Root’s longevity and consistency across a career spanning over a decade have been nothing short of extraordinary. Having made his Test debut against India in Nagpur back in late 2012, he has anchored the English batting lineup through multiple eras, transitions, and captaincy changes.
Regarding the team’s ongoing progress and standing, England took an unassailable lead in the three-match Test series against Pakistan. England currently sits sixth in the World Test Championship points table with six wins from 15 games, holding a points percentage of 34.44. They are already eliminated from the WTC 2025-27 final race owing to a poor win percentage.
After the conclusion of Pakistan’s tour of England, Joe Root and his English side will next play a Test match on December 17 against South Africa in Johannesburg. A three-match Test series will be conducted in South Africa as a part of England’s Tour of South Africa 2026-27. The tour will comprise three Test matches followed by 3 ODIs. After the conclusion of the South African tour, Australia and England will play a one-off Day-Night Test on March 11, 2027, in Melbourne to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the longest format of the game. If Root manages to feature in all four Test matches until March 2027, he will have 173 Test appearances to his name.