Joe Root is a distinguished member of “The Fab Four”—an elite group comprising Root, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson. These four define the best Test batsmanship of this era. However, it must be said that the past few years have seen Root in a league of his own.
This became even clearer when, on Wednesday, October 9, Root overtook his former captain, the legendary Alastair Cook (12,472 Test runs), as the highest run-scorer in Tests for an English cricketer. And Root achieved this milestone in style as he punched an unbeaten century, his 35th overall, on the third day of the Test match versus Pakistan.
Reacting to Root’s phenomenal achievement, former England batter Marcus Trescothick said, “We’re lucky enough to see history being made.”
Trescothick added: “We don’t know where it will end. He [Root] continues to produce the results home and away. He’s a technician of the game, he builds his game around what he’s trying to do, puts in hours of prep, and is prepared to tinker. Steps over the line and is solely focused on watching every ball.”
On the all-time Test batting highest run-scorers, Root currently stands at No.5, behind Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs), JH Kallis (13,289 runs), Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs), and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs).
Root, who was yet to be born when Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut, has ample time to overcome the Indian legend who sits on the top of the table with his 15,921 Test runs.
When Sachin retired from the game, few could fathom someone else breathing down his amazing Test aggregate, but Root has emerged as the favourite, especially in the past couple of years, as the man who can do this.
Most runs in Tests for England:
Joe Root – 12,502*
Alastair Cook – 12,472
Graham Gooch – 8,900
Alec Stewart – 8,463
David Gower – 8,231
