England become first team to surpass 500,000 runs in Test cricket

England set a new record, becoming the first team to surpass 500,000 test runs.

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England made history in Test cricket on December 7, 2024, becoming the first team to surpass half a million runs.

During the second Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Harry Brook's double off Kiwi pacer William O'Rourke pushed England past the milestone of 500,000 runs.

 

At the end of Day 2, England had scored 378 for 5, taking their overall tally to 500,126 runs.

This remarkable achievement came in 1,082 matches played over 147 years, featuring 717 players and 18,900 innings.

In the match, England had previously posted 280 runs, with Brook contributing a century in the first innings.

New Zealand was bowled out for 125, with Guy Atkinson and Brydon Carse taking four wickets each.

In their second innings, Ben Duckett scored 92 runs, while Jacob Bethell added 96. Brook made a further contribution with 55 runs, and Joe Root reached 73* to notch up his 100th Test fifty, joining an elite group including Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting.

England finished Day 2 with a commanding 533-run lead, still having five wickets in hand.

They lead the three-match series 1-0 after their 8-wicket victory in the first Test at Hagley Oval.

England rolled to a dominant 323-run victory over New Zealand at Basin Reserve, clinching their first Test series win in New Zealand since 2007-08.

Despite a stunning counterattack from Tom Blundell, who scored a resilient 115, England’s all-around performance was too much for the hosts, who were bowled out for 259 in their second innings.

England, already with a commanding first-innings lead of 280, had declared at 427 for 6 in their second innings, with Joe Root (106), Ben Duckett (92), and Jacob Bethell (96) contributing key knocks.

New Zealand's hopes of surviving or chasing down a daunting 583 were quickly dashed as they lost four wickets early in their second innings.

Blundell’s impressive knock was the highlight for New Zealand, as he weathered the early storm and launched an aggressive counterattack.

He shared a 96-run partnership with Nathan Smith (42) before falling to England’s Shoaib Bashir, with Ben Duckett taking a brilliant catch at slip to dismiss him.

His innings, though vital in providing some respectability to the New Zealand total, came too late to alter the outcome.

Chris Woakes (2-33) and Brydon Carse (2-46) provided the initial breakthroughs, while Ben Stokes (3-5) wrapped up the tail to finish off the match in style.

Despite Blundell’s defiance, New Zealand were bowled out quickly, with Matt Henry and Tim Southee falling cheaply in the final stages.

England’s victory was set up by their dominant batting performance, where Harry Brook had led the way with a century in the first innings.

Root’s elegant hundred and Bethell's crucial knock in the second innings sealed the series for England, who had the game well under control from early on.

For New Zealand, the defeat marked a bitter end to a series they had hoped to contest more strongly.

With the win, England not only claimed a historic series victory but also demonstrated their strength as they continue their dominance on the world stage.