Most Test runs in a calendar year: Can Joe Root break Mohammad Yousuf's world record?

Root is currently in the form of his life, and in his most recent Test innings registered a personal best in the format, scoring 262 against Pakistan during a record-breaking innings for England in Multan on October 10.

The knock took Root's tally of Test runs for the calendar year past the 1000-run mark. Coming into this match, he had 986 runs in 2024, and his double-century has now taken him to 1248, in 12 matches. It is unlikely he will bat again in this Test, but England have five more Tests scheduled this year – two more against Pakistan and three against New Zealand, all away from home.

How likely is Root to break Mohammad Yousuf's world record for the most Test runs in a calendar year?

Can Joe Root break Mohammad Yousuf's world record?

The 'magic' number that Root will be chasing down is 1788, which Yousuf managed in the year 2006. He averaged 99.3 that calendar year, with nine centuries and three fifties. Two other players have scored over 1700 Test runs in a calendar year – Viv Richards (1976) with 1710, and Root himself (2021) with 1708.

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In 2024, Root is in fact behind where he was at the same stage in 2021. After 12 Tests in that year, his tally stood at 1,455 runs. He went on to score 253 more in his last three matches of the year to fall short of the record by 81 runs.

Root's current rate of scoring is exactly 104 runs per match. Maintaining this rate across the next five Test matches of the year (assuming he plays in all of them) will see him score another 520, to take his tally to 1768 runs, 21 shy of breaking the record.

In order to equal Yousuf, he would have to average 108 runs per Test, not a massive increase from his current rate. Root has looked as good as he has ever been this year, and has in fact enjoyed a bumper period over the last few years, with 18 of his 35 Test centuries coming since the start of 2021.

Batting conditions in New Zealand may be difficult as they usually are for top-order batters. But Pakistan rolled out a flat wicket for the first Test in Multan, where the second Test will also be held. The third is in Rawalpindi, another venue known for high scores.

With the form both he and Pakistan are in, and potentially some good batting surfaces on offer, Root could make some real headway on breaking the record, even before the New Zealand tour arrives. Whisper it, but there's a very real chance he gets there.

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Full list of players with most Test runs in a calendar year

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