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Joe Root Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth30 December 1990

Age31 Years

BirthplaceDore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

ProfessionCricketer

NationalityEnglish

Marital statusMarried

SpouseCarrie Cotterill

FamilyFather - Matt Root; Mother - Helen Root; Brother - Billy Root; Sisters - Wanda Root and Amanda Root

Joe Root Biography

Joe Root is an English cricketer from Sheffield who has been a mainstay of England's batting lineup across formats since his international debut in 2012. A

Early life and background

Joseph Edward Root was born on 30 December 1990 in Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Raised in a sporting family, he attended King Ecgbert School in Sheffield before going on to Worksop College. His parents are Matt and Helen Root, and he has several siblings, including a younger brother, Billy Root, who is also involved in cricket. Root grew up in Sheffield and developed into a top-level cricketer while remaining connected to his Yorkshire roots.

Career

Root made his international breakthrough in late 2012 and early 2013. He debuted in Test cricket on 13 December 2012 against India in Nagpur, made his Twenty20 international debut on 22 December 2012 in Mumbai, and played his first One Day International on 11 January 2013 in Rajkot. He wears the jersey numbers 5 and 66 for England and has also used number 5 in county and IPL cricket. Domestically he represents Yorkshire and has been part of England XI selections.

Known for a calm presence at the crease, Root prefers to play against teams such as Australia and India and counts the straight drive among his favourite shots. Early in his career he earned recognition as Man of the Series for England Under-19 against Bangladesh Under-19 in 2010, a moment that helped crystallise his path to senior international cricket.

Across formats Root has set notable marks and reached milestones. His debut Test innings of 73, played over 289 minutes, stands among the longest by an English batsman on debut. He became the first Yorkshire player to score an ODI century at Headingley. After 25 Tests he was placed among the leading run-scorers historically at that stage of a Test career, alongside names such as Brian Lara and Rahul Dravid. In T20 internationals his 83 off 44 balls against South Africa in the 2016 ICC World T20 was a standout chase performance. In 2021 he accumulated the most Test centuries and the most Test runs by any player that year while England hosted India. On 5 June 2022, Root reached the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket, becoming the 14th player in history to do so and the second from England; he achieved this milestone during the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

Public profile

Root stands approximately 1.83 metres (6'0") tall and is noted as having light blue eyes and blonde hair. He has been nicknamed Joe, Shorty, and The Golden Child. Off the field, Root enjoys playing the guitar and has a range of personal favourites, from Michael Vaughan and James Anderson as cricketers he admires to actor Brad Pitt and Barbados as a travel destination. He was named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 2014.

Personal life

Root married Carrie Cotterill on 1 December 2018. The couple have a son, Alfred William Root, and a daughter whose name is not publicly listed in the excerpt. Root follows Christianity and lists simple comforts among his favourite foods, including Weetabix, chocolate chips and bacon sandwiches. He has been described as a prankster by those around him and carried the informal label FEC—short for Future England Captain—among college teammates.

Latest updates

By mid-2022 Root had joined an exclusive group of batsmen to surpass 10,000 Test runs, a testament to his longevity and consistent scoring at the highest level. He continues to represent Yorkshire and England in international cricket and remains a central figure in England's batting plans.
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Recent Work

10,000 Test runs milestone

Became the 14th player in history and the second England player to score 10,000 Test runs on 5 June 2022 during the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

2022
Standout innings in ICC World T20 2016

Scored 83 off 44 balls against South Africa, a key contribution to one of the best chases in T20I and World T20 history.

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Test debut: 13 December 2012 vs India (Nagpur)
  2. ODI debut: 11 January 2013 vs India (Rajkot)
  3. T20 debut: 22 December 2012 vs India (Mumbai)
  4. First Yorkshire batsman to score an ODI hundred at Headingley
  5. Wisden Cricketer of the Year, 2014
  6. Reached 10,000 Test runs on 5 June 2022
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Joe Root born?

30 December 1990

What is Joe Root known for?

Cricketer

What is Joe Root’s marital status?

Married

Who is Joe Root married to?

Carrie Cotterill