England skipper Joe Root finishes 2021 with third-most calendar year Test runs in history

On Tuesday, England captain Joe Root added to his illustrious career by finishing the calendar year with the third-most Test runs in history. After being dismissed for 28 on day three of the third Ashes Test in Melbourne, England captain Joe Root finished the year with 1,708 runs at an average of 61.00. Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan (1,788 runs in 2006) leads the list of most runs scored by a batsman in a calendar year, while West Indian star Viv Richards (1,710 runs in 1976) is just two runs behind Root. On the first day of the third Ashes Test, Root, 30, broke former South Africa captain Graeme Smith’s record for most Test runs as captain in a calendar year.

The Englishman, who has yet to hit an Ashes century in Australia, will be more anxious with his team’s humiliating Ashes defeat in the first three Test matches. Scott Boland returned with statistics of 6/7 in four overs as Australia defeated England by an innings and 14 runs in the third Test at the MCG. With this victory, Australia reclaimed the Ashes, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the five-match series.