Joe Root has etched his name in cricket history by becoming England’s leading run-scorer in Test cricket, surpassing Alastair Cook. The milestone came on the third morning of England’s first Test against Pakistan when Root reached 71 with a straight drive for four. This shot not only earned applause from his teammates and the coaching staff but also secured Root’s position at the top of England’s Test run charts.
Starting the day 70 runs behind Cook’s career total of 12,472, Root overtook his former captain by driving Aamer Jamal down the ground. With that stroke, Root not only passed Cook but moved into fifth place on the list of all-time Test run-scorers. He now trails cricket legend Rahul Dravid by over 800 runs. Although Root still has a long way to go before catching up with Sachin Tendulkar’s world record of 15,921 runs, Cook believes it’s possible.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Cook shared his thoughts: “I can see Joe overhauling Sachin Tendulkar’s record. When I retired, I knew my record could be broken, and I think Root’s hunger for the game will help him push even further.”
Positive Factor for Root
Cook also acknowledged that Ben Stokes taking over as England’s Test captain has been a positive factor for Root. The pressures of captaincy, which Root experienced before stepping down, often affect a player’s form. Cook said, “The captaincy burden is no longer on him, and that’s helped him regain his focus on batting. The only thing that could stop him is an unexpected injury.”
Though many see Tendulkar’s record as unbeatable, Cook gave a close prediction, saying, “I’d give Sachin 51% and Root 49%. But I’d bet on Joe to break it.”
Root, however, has downplayed the significance of the record. Speaking before the Test, he mentioned that the only reason the record is on his mind is due to frequent questions from the media. Root added, “I see myself playing Test cricket for a lot longer. I’m not aiming to reach a specific number of runs and then stop. I just want to keep enjoying the game.”
Root’s stellar form continues. Last month, he surpassed Cook’s record for the most Test centuries by an Englishman, hitting twin hundreds against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Now, he holds both the century and run records for England.
Crucial Partnerships
On the second evening of the Multan Test, Root batted at No. 3, stepping in early after Ben Duckett was unable to open due to an injury. Root formed crucial partnerships with Zak Crawley and Duckett, who recovered to bat at No. 4. As England aimed to reduce Pakistan’s lead, Root played with calmness and consistency, reaching his 50th Test half-century for the 99th time.
During his innings, he had a few nervous moments, including an unsuccessful lbw review by Pakistan after Aamer Jamal struck him on the pads. However, just four balls later, Root secured his place in history as England’s leading Test run-scorer.
Root’s journey in Test cricket continues, and while his eyes may not be fixed on records, his achievements are speaking volumes. The cricket world now watches to see how far he will go.
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