Root recorded his 95th Test fifty-plus score during the knock, the sixth best among all batters.

2nd youngest and 2nd slowest

Interestingly, Root is the second youngest batter behind compatriot Alastair Cook to reach 12,000 Test runs, completing the feat aged 33 years and 210 days. Former India captain Rahul Dravid was the oldest batter to cross the mark at 37 years 339 days. Root also eclipsed West Indies batting legend Brian Lara’s tally of 11,953 runs during his knock.

Youngest players to 12,000 Test runs

33y 13d – Alastair Cook
33y 210d – Joe Root
35y 176d – Sachin Tendulkar
35y 214d – Ricky Ponting
36y 32d – Jacques Kallis
37y 68d – Kumar Sangakkara
37y 339d – Rahul Dravid

Fastest players in terms of innings to reach 12,000 Test runs

224 – Kumar Sangakkara
247 – Ricky Ponting
247 – Sachin Tendulkar
249 – Jacques Kallis
255 – Rahul Dravid
261 – Joe Root
275 – Alastair Cook

However, Root is not the quickest to the landmark, instead finds himself towards the bottom of the list with only Cook behind him in the club. While Cook took 275 innings to reach the feat, Root crossed the mark in his 261st innings. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara was the quickest (in terms of innings) to reach 12,000 runs in 224 innings. Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting are second, both securing the 12,000th run in their 247th innings.