Sydney, Jan. 5 -- England veteran batter Joe Root became the joint-third highest with the most Test hundreds in international cricket, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The right-handed batter joined Australian legend Ricky Ponting after scoring his 41st Test century against Australia in the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on Monday.

Australian legend Ponting notched up 13378 runs in 168 Test matches at an outstanding average of 51.85, along with 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries.

Root reached his 41st Test century in 146 deliveries during the first innings of England on Day 2 of the Sydney Test. It was Root's second hundred in the ongoing Ashes series. Earlier, the veteran slammed...