Tag: CricketRecords

Joe Root, the English batting maestro, continues to dominate the Test arena, etching his name among the all-time greats. With his 35th Test century in Multan against Pakistan, Root has extended his lead as the active batter with the most Test runs.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Root has the potential to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 15,291 Test runs. However, Vaughan emphasizes that Root must maintain his longevity in the game.

“Joe’s love of the game means he will not be like Alastair Cook. Cook retired six years ago, at almost exactly the same age – 33 – that Joe is now. But I see Joe going into his forties, like Anderson has,” Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

Root’s current tally of 12,500 Test runs places him just over 3,000 runs behind Tendulkar. The 33-year-old has played 147 Tests, while Tendulkar played 200 during his illustrious career.

2024 has been a remarkable year for Root, who has amassed runs against India, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and now Pakistan. He became the first batter to cross 1,000 Test runs in 2024.

Vaughan heaped praise on Root, stating, “Root is already cricketing royalty and there is no doubt in my eyes that he has become England’s greatest batsman already. No one has played the different forms of the game better than him, and he has got the runs to show for it.”

Root also trails Tendulkar in another elite list. He has crossed 1,000 Test runs in five separate calendar years, while only Tendulkar has achieved this feat in six calendar years.

Root’s unwavering determination and exceptional batting skills make him a formidable force in Test cricket. If he continues to play at his current level and maintain his longevity, he has the potential to break Tendulkar’s record and become the leading Test run-scorer of all time.

England’s Joe Root has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming the all-time highest-scoring player for his country. At the age of 33, Root achieved this remarkable feat during the second Test against Sri Lanka, registering his 34th Test century.

Root’s achievement is a testament to his exceptional consistency and longevity at the highest level. Despite the significant shift in England’s approach to Test cricket under Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” philosophy, Root has maintained his exemplary form, piling up runs and reaching milestones that others can only dream of.

Currently ranked seventh on the all-time list of Test run-getters with 12,377 runs, Root has a realistic chance of surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the top spot with 15,921 runs. When asked about the possibility of becoming the highest-scoring player in Test cricket, Root remained humble, emphasizing his focus on playing for the team and scoring runs.

“I just want to play, and try, and do my bit for the team and score the runs as many as I can and see where we get to,” Root said. “But there’s no better feeling… it’s obviously amazing when you score 100, you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t, a big part of why you start playing the game and what you love about it.”

However, Root also acknowledged the importance of winning Test matches, stating that it is the ultimate goal. “But there’s no better feeling than winning a Test match,” he said. “So the more it can affect games and the more you can add to the team, the greater it is. So, that will be the main focus. And hopefully more days like this will come with that mentality.”

With several years of cricket still ahead of him and fitness on his side, Root has a realistic chance of surpassing Tendulkar’s record. His unwavering determination and exceptional talent make him a formidable force in the world of Test cricket.