It’s been a bumper few months for Root, who has established himself as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and is racking up the records to prove it. In Pakistan he became England’s leading Test run scorer, overtaking Sir Alastair Cook, and in New Zealand he brought up a daddy hundred of England appearances, the fourth England cricketer and 11th overall to the milestone.

Ahead of him for England are Cook on 161 caps, Stuart Broad on 167 caps, and James Anderson on 188. Anderson is the second most capped Test cricketer of all time, finishing 12 behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar.

Root made his debut in 2012 and is 33 years old. England are scheduled to play another 25 Tests by the end of the current Future Tours Programme, which ends in 2027, with an Ashes summer following thereafter. Should Root continue to be an ever-present for England until then, he will be on around 180 caps by the end of that series, when he will be 36 years old. His hopes of catching Tendulkar’s Test appearances record rest on him carrying on past that series, as may his hopes of hauling in the Little Master’s run record.

In reaching 150 Tests, Root overtook a notable name: Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, who finished with 149 caps. Next ahead of him is Allan Border, who played 156 times for Australia. Following Anderson's retirement earlier this year, Root has the most Test appearances among active players. Next on the list is Australia's Nathan Lyon, who has played 130 Tests.

Most Test appearances, full list

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