 "Ex-England spinner drops major prediction on Root breaking Tendulkar's record: 'He'll end up scoring 18,000 Test runs'")
English batting star Joe Root had recently overtaken the trio of Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting during the recently-concluded Test series against India, moving to the second spot on the list of leading run-scorers in Test cricket. The 34-year-old has just one summit left to be scaled in the elite five-day format – Sachin Tendulkar’s 15,921 runs which has been unconquered since he retired from the game in November 2013.
Given he is likely to play Test cricket for England for another four or five years, Root is a strong favourite to eclipse Tendulkar before he hangs up his boots unless he experiences a drastic decline in form. Root is another 2,379 runs away from breaking Tendulkar’s record and the likes of former England captain Mike Atherton expect him to achieve the feat in two-and-a-half years or less.
Panesar expects Root to play for another six years, reach 18K
Former England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, for one, believes Root not only is a favourite to surpass Tendulkar, he also has a strong chance of finishing with up to 18,000 runs in the format, assuming he continues to represent England in the format till he’s 40.
“He’ll break it, and he’ll go past it. I think he’ll end up scoring 18,000 Test runs. Because he’s only 34, right? He’s 34, he’s got another six years. In six years, he’ll probably score another 4,000-5,000 Test runs. So, Tendulkar played until 40, so he’ll probably end up playing until 40. He’ll break that, and he’ll go past it. I think he’ll end up scoring 18,000 Test runs,” Panesar told Hindustan Times.
Root was in superb form during the recent five-match Test series against India, which ended in a 2-2 draw after the Shubman Gill-led visitors' thrilling six-run victory in the series finale at The Oval on Monday.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe finished the series as England’s highest run-scorer, collecting 537 runs at an average of 67.12 with the help of three centuries and a fifty.
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