Joe Root breaks Javed Miandad’s record

England’s Joe Root has etched his name into Test cricket history by surpassing Javed Miandad as the leading run-scorer in matches against New Zealand. Root now boasts 1,925 runs, eclipsing Miandad’s tally of 1,919 runs.

Root is also the top run-scorer in Test matches against India, with 2,846 runs to his name. He joins Kumar Sangakkara as the only player to top the run charts against two different nations.

The prolific English batsman has scored 2,911 runs against Pakistan and 1,816 runs against Bangladesh.

Root’s stellar record includes being the first player to score more than 1,000 Test runs in New Zealand, with 1,006 runs, and he holds the record for most half-centuries by a visiting player in New Zealand, with eight.

This commanding victory matches the joint-highest margin of victory by runs in Test cricket, previously achieved by New Zealand against Sri Lanka in 2018.

The Kiwis also became the first team to win a Test by over 300 runs after losing the previous one by a similar margin, as they had been beaten by 323 runs in Wellington.

New Zealand has had remarkable success at Seddon Park since their last defeat to South Africa in 2012, winning eight of their 10 Tests at the venue.

England’s defeat marked their second loss by over 400 runs in a calendar year, having previously suffered a 434-run loss to India in February.