England National Cricket Team batting icon Joe Root has created history by becoming the first batter from his country to score 8,000 runs in One Day International (ODI) cricket on Thursday (October 22).

The experienced batter achieved this special milestone during the third match of the ongoing ODI Tri-Series match against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Earlier, James Anderson retirement: Lancashire force England great towards career end.

Joe Root becomes first England batter to score 8,000 ODI runs

Joe Root completed 8,000 runs in One Day International (ODI) cricket with his 64th run in the ongoing ODI Tri-Series match against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

England’s Test captain reached the milestone after hitting a shot off Dunith Wellalage’s bowling towards deep mid-wicket and running two runs against Sri Lanka in the ongoing third ODI.

With those two runs, Root became the first England batter ever to score 8,000 runs in ODI cricket. The Englishman achieved the feat in his 197th ODI appearance.

Interestingly, no other England batter has even reached 7,000 ODI runs, with former captain Eoin Morgan second on the list with 6957 runs. Morgan was followed by Ian Bell with 5416 ODI runs.

Another milestone in an incredible career 👏 https://t.co/cgxFPDj6gA

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 22, 2026

Joe Root joins Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli in elite 23,000-run club

Additionally, Root has also crossed 23000 runs in international cricket across all three formats and became only the eighth player in cricket history to reach this massive milestone.

He is now the first-ever England player to score 23000+ runs in all three formats of the game at the international level. Root also joined an elite list of legends who have crossed the 23,000-run mark in international cricket.

This list features the Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rahul Dravid; the Australian legend Ricky Ponting; the legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis; and the Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

When it comes to active cricketers, Root is now the only second player after Kohli to have reached this milestone and has a chance to take their tally further in ODI cricket. Amid this, Harry Brook vs Marco Jansen: Dale Steyn settles world's best cricketer debate.

Root owns unmatched ODI record at No.3 before losing his wicket to Asitha Fernando

The veteran batter has also dominated at the number three position for England. In 122 innings at this spot, Joe Root has scored more than 5400 runs at an average above 53 in ODI cricket. Jonathan Trott is second on the list with 2585 runs, having played his last ODI in 2013.

Well, the England star was dismissed for 69 runs off 66 balls, hitting eight fours, in the ODI match against Sri Lanka. Asitha Fernando bowled a short delivery around the middle and leg stump. Root tried to play the ball towards the leg side but got a leading edge, and Dunith Wellalage took an easy catch at mid-wicket.

Joe Root's ODI numbers for England

Joe Root made his ODI debut against India in Rajkot in 2013 and has since become one of England’s most dependable batters. He has scored 8000 ODI runs in 186 innings at an average of over 50. He has already smashed 20 centuries and 48 half-centuries in the 50-over format of the game for England.

He has scored 4107 runs in 102 ODIs at home at an average of 51.33, including 10 centuries and 24 half-centuries. The right-handed batter has also scored more than 3000 runs in away ODIs at an average above 50, along with 800 runs at neutral venues.