Joe Root, widely regarded as England’s greatest Test batsman, continues to rewrite record books. His twin centuries in the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s propelled him past Alastair Cook’s long-standing record of 33 Test hundreds. Now, with 12,377 runs in 145 Tests at an average of 50.93, Root finds himself just 3,544 runs behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar, considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time, finished his career with a staggering 15,921 runs in 200 Tests.
With 3-4 years of potential cricket left in his career, Root’s proximity to Tendulkar’s record has sparked a fascinating question: can he surpass the Indian batting legend? Root, already seventh on the list of leading run-getters in red-ball international cricket, is only 95 runs behind Cook to become England’s top Test scorer.
In a recent interview, when asked about his pursuit of Tendulkar’s record, Root emphasized his focus on contributing to the team’s success. “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,” he stated. While acknowledging the significance of individual milestones, he prioritized team victories: “There’s no better feeling than winning a Test match. So the more it can affect games and the more you can add to the team, the greater it is.”
Root’s consistent brilliance over the past few years makes his quest for Tendulkar’s record seem attainable. England have a busy Test schedule lined up for the remainder of the year, with six more matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. If he maintains his form and fitness, Root could potentially break the record before the year’s end.
This exciting prospect adds another layer to Root’s already illustrious career. As he closes in on Tendulkar’s record, the cricketing world eagerly awaits to see if Root can etch his name alongside the legends of the game.
