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Joe Root is currently the fifth-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket—but he has a chance to climb as high as second. The England veteran will get that opportunity when his team faces India in the fourth Test, starting July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid currently occupy the second, third, and fourth spots, respectively. Root needs just 31 runs to surpass both Dravid and Kallis. To overtake Ponting and move into second place, he'll need 120 runs.
 

Given his current form, Root has a strong chance of achieving the milestone. That said, he still trails Sachin Tendulkar’s record by 2,663 runs.

Root has an excellent Test record in Manchester, having scored 978 runs from 11 matches at an average of 65.20 with one hundred and seven fifties.

Most runs in Test cricket history

Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 15921 runs from 200 matches

Ricky Ponting (Australia) - 13378 runs from 168 matches

Jacques Kallis (South Africa) - 13289 runs from 166 matches

Rahul Dravid (India) - 13288 runs from 164 matches

Joe Root (England) - 13259 runs from 156 matches

Joe Root dethrones Harry Brook

Root recently reclaimed the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings, just days after briefly slipping behind his younger teammate Harry Brook.

Root’s return to the top spot comes on the back of a vintage performance at Lord’s, where he scored a commanding 104 and followed it up with a steady 40 in the second innings. His efforts proved instrumental in England’s seven-wicket win over India, helping the hosts grab a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Root’s 37th Test ton took him past Rahul Dravid on the list of most centuries in the format, placing him fifth all-time. He also became only the fourth batter in Test history to cross 8000 runs while batting exclusively at No.4, joining elite names like Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jacques Kallis.