 "Joe Root is over 3000 runs away from Sachin Tendulkar's Test runs record. Image: AP")
Joe Root on Wednesday became England’s highest run-getter in Tests as he surpassed the great Alastair Cook on Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Root overtook his former captain with a four to the long-on boundary on the last ball of the 42nd over, which was bowled by Pakistani pacer Aamer Jamal.
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Root is now fifth on the all-time list of leading run-scorers in Test cricket, only behind Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid.
Highest run-getters in Test cricket:
15921 - Sachin Tendulkar
13378 - Ricky Ponting
13289 - Jacques Kallis
13288 - Rahul Dravid
12473* - Joe Root
12472 - Alastair Cook
12400 - Kumar Sangakkara
Root shines in 2024
The 33-year-old Root has been in terrific form this season in Test cricket, having already scored over 1000 runs in 2024 in 12 Tests and averages close to 60. He has smashed four Test hundreds in 2024 and with more matches to come against Pakistan and New Zealand later this year, the right-handed batter has an opportunity to take his tally to 1500 runs in the ongoing calendar year.
Joe Root completed 1000 Test runs for 2024 on Day 2 of the Multan Test vs Pakistan. This is the fifth time he has crossed the 1000-run mark in a calendar year. Sachin Tendulkar is the only batter in the history of the game to have more calendar years (6) with 1000+ runs than Root.
In August this year, Root scored his 34th Test hundred in Test cricket with a century in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. He now has the most Test centuries for an England batter, once again surpassing Cook.
List of Test batters with most hundreds:
51 - Sachin Tendulkar
45 - Jacques Kallis
41- Ricky Ponting
38 - Kumar Sangakkara
36 - Rahul Dravid
34 - Younis Khan
34 - Sunil Gavaskar
34 - Brian Lara
34 - Mahela Jayawardene
34 - Joe Root*
33 - Alastair Cook