Joe Root's excellent 2021 in numbers

England skipper Joe Root made a mockery of some records as he scored staggering 1708 runs in Tests this year with an average of 61.00 and the highest score of 228. He smashed six centuries including two double tons and four half-centuries as he finished the year with most runs with India’s Rohit Sharma at the second position who notched up 906 runs.

Joe Root, in 2021, became the third batter with most Test runs in a calendar year. Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf tops the list who enjoyed a rich vein of form in the year 2006 amassing 1788 runs. West Indies legend Vivian Richards is second having amassed 1710 runs 30 years ago in 1976.

The English skipper fell just three runs short of breaking the Caribbean batter’s record. Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith finds himself at fourth place in the list for scoring 1656 runs in the year 2008. Michael Clarke is the next batter who scored 1595 runs in the year 2012 with a mind-blowing highest score of 329* against India.

Most runs in Tests in a calendar year:

With 1708 runs, Joe Root entered the record books to score most runs as a Test captain in a calendar year. He surpassed South Africa’s Graeme Smith tally of 1656 runs. The third and fourth name in the chart is of Australian duo Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting when they amassed 1595 and 1544 runs in the year 2012 and 2005 respectively. Another former Australian who makes the cut at number five is Bob Simpson who scored 1381 runs in the year 1964.

Most runs as captain in Tests in a calendar year:

No other batter even reached 1000 runs mark in 2021

Such is the dominance of Joe Root in Tests this year that not a single other batter managed to reach even 1000 runs. India’s opening batter Rohit Sharma is second behind Root for scoring 906 runs with Sri Lanka’s captain Dimuth Karunaratne third in the chart as he chalked up 902 runs. Rishabh Pant is the fourth name in the list for mustering 714 runs. Pakistan opener Abid Ali with 695 runs finds himself on fifth spot.

Most runs in Tests in 2021:

Joe Root’s red hot form was the only silver lining for England team that struggled in Tests this year. The skipper bossed the year by becoming the batter with most runs, most centuries, most double centuries, most fours, most balls faced. He was certainly the mainstay of the England side in 2021 and he would like to carry his rich form into next year as well. However, he would love to change the results for his side at the same time.