After Ricky Ponting, England veteran Alastair Cook now backs Joe Root to surpass Sachin Tendulkar for most runs in Test cricket history
England great backs Root to surpass Tendulkar's red ball record (Image: X.com)

England legend, previously the highest run-getter, Alastair Cook, has backed Joe Root to be capable enough to go past the likes of the great Sachin Tendulkar for most runs in the history of red-ball cricket.


Adding a lot of runs to his tally, Joe Root went past the former Indian legend, Alastair Cook, as he surpassed 71 pre-lunch when Root with 12473 runs surpassed the likes of Cook, who had 12472 runs, the highest by an English cricketer.

While commentary Cook remarked when Joe Root neared his 35th hundred in tests that if he continues his stunning form then, he might be a tough competitor for all-time highest run-getter Sachin Tendulkar in tests, who still has 3400+ runs than Root in the format.

“I can see him overhauling Sachin Tendulkar’s record,” Cook said while commentating on BBC radio.

“You could say Sachin is still the favourite, but just.


“I don’t see that happening for Root to lose that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.”

All this was remarked when Joe Root neared his 35th Test hundred, which was highly praised by the English skipper Ben Stokes sitting in the stands.

Joe Root stands tall with 176* as he rewrites record books with 5000+ WTC runs

Joe Root ended his runs tally on a significant 32*, when Root, alongside Zak Crawley (64*), ended England’s total on 96 runs for the loss of the first wicket of Ollie Pope.

On day 3, Shaheen Afridi struck early, as he got rid of the inform Crawley, as Ben Duckett finally came into bat at no. 4, as he played a dominating hand alongside Root, who surpassed the likes of Cook to emerge as the greatest ever England cricketer to score most runs for the three lions in the format.

Root dominated with nearing a hundred, as Duckett was the last English wicket to fall for 84 after Aamer Jamal got rid of the aggressive batter. The 5th wicket partnership, between the likes of Root and Harry Brook, the vice-captain of the English side, took over with a 200+ run stand.

Brook scored a terrific hundred as he remained not out at an individual score of 141*, and also Joe Root continued his legacy as he neared a major milestone, with only 24 runs behind a terrific double-hundred on overseas conditions. England are now 64 runs behind, with 492/3 at Stumps on Day 3.

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