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Written by Akash Saha | Edited and fact-checked by Amit Saha | Editorial policy
Joe Root: 23,000+ international runs
Joe Root has scored the most international runs for England, over 23,000 across all three formats, with a record 61 centuries. Alastair Cook is second with 15,737 and Kevin Pietersen third with 13,797.
Most International Runs for England: Top 10
| Rank | Player | Span | Runs | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Root* | 2012– | 23,000+ | 61 |
| 2 | Alastair Cook | 2006–2018 | 15,737 | 38 |
| 3 | Kevin Pietersen | 2004–2014 | 13,797 | 32 |
| 4 | Ian Bell | 2004–2015 | 13,331 | 26 |
| 5 | Graham Gooch | 1975–1995 | 13,190 | 28 |
| 6 | Alec Stewart | 1989–2003 | 13,140 | 19 |
| 7 | Jos Buttler* | 2011– | 12,969 | 14 |
| 8 | Jonny Bairstow | 2011–2024 | 11,513 | 23 |
| 9 | David Gower | 1978–1992 | 11,401 | 25 |
| 10 | Andrew Strauss | 2003–2012 | 11,315 | 27 |
How Many International Runs Has Joe Root Scored?
Joe Root has scored over 23,000 international runs for England, passing the 23,000 mark against Sri Lanka in September 2026. No other England player has reached 16,000.
- Tests: England’s leading run-scorer and second on the all-time list, behind Sachin Tendulkar; 41 centuries.
- ODIs: England’s leading run-scorer, the first Englishman to 7,000 ODI runs, and a record 20 ODI centuries.
- Milestones: passed Cook as England’s all-format leader in 2021, and became the first Englishman to 20,000 international runs in 2024.
- Rare double: one of only two players, with AB de Villiers, to average over 50 in both Tests and ODIs.
England’s Leading Run-Scorer in Each Format
| Format | Player | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | Joe Root | Passed Cook’s 12,472 in 2024 |
| ODIs | Joe Root | Passed Eoin Morgan’s 6,957 in 2025 |
| T20Is | Jos Buttler | Only England player with 4,000 T20I runs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most runs for England in international cricket?
Joe Root, with over 23,000 runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Who has the most international centuries for England?
Joe Root, with 61: 41 in Tests and 20 in ODIs. Alastair Cook is second with 38.
Who has the most T20I runs for England?
Jos Buttler, the only England batter with over 4,000 T20I runs.
How many international runs did Alastair Cook score?
15,737: 12,472 in Tests, 3,204 in ODIs and 61 in T20Is.
More: most Test centuries · most international centuries · cricket records index
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