Yorkshire legend, history maker.
Joe Root today became England’s leading run-scorer in Test Match Cricket, passing Sir Alastair Cook’s haul of 12,472 runs.
And the Sheffield-born superstar shows now signs of slowing up, meaning Sachin Tendulkar’s Test record of 15,921 is now within reach.
Root ended day three of England’s opening Test against Pakistan in Multan on 176 not out, the feature innings of their 492-3 reply to the home side’s 556 all out.
He was ably supported by another Yorkshire favourite, Harry Brook, who ended the day 141 not out. The pair shared an unbroken 243 for the fourth wicket in an imperious display of batting which has opened uptake prospect of an England win.
Root started day three on 32 not out, needing 39 more to surpass Cook.
Picture by Aamir Qureshi/AFP via Getty Images. Joe Root and Harry Brook bring today’s third day of England’s ongoing Test against Pakistan in Multan.
And it was fitting that he did so with a glorious straight driven boundary off Aamer Jamal’s seam. It was a dreamy stroke which screamed, ‘Rooty at his best’.
Root did not speak to the media at the end of day three, due to the fact that he is not out and closing in on 200.
It was left to others to praise the former captain, aged 33, who scored his 35th hundred in his 147th Test.
Former record-holder Cook told BBC Test Match Special: “I can see him overhauling Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
“When I retired, I thought there was every chance that my record will be broken.
“I thought only the effects of captaincy and the hunger that takes out of you would stop him. I think the fact that Ben Stokes has taken over the captaincy has helped Root.
Picture by Andrew Matthews. WPA Pool/Getty Images. Joe Root collects his MBE at Windsor Castle earlier this summer. Surely a Knighthood is on the way?
“You could say Sachin is still the favourite, but just.
“All great players who played for a long time have been lucky with injuries. You just never know what’s around the corner, but it has to be something like it that could stop him.
“But I don’t see Root losing that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.”
Root is now Test Cricket’s fifth leading run-scorer, with only Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting and Tendulkar ahead of him. He is within 1,000 runs of all but Tendulkar.
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick spoke to Sky Sports at the end of today’s play.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “We’re lucky enough to sit and watch history being made. Incredible. The way he goes about it, the work he puts in, he will continue to be superb for a number of years.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Joe Root in County Championship action for Yorkshire earlier this summer.
“I don’t know where it can end.
“We will hopefully see more and more in next few years.”
In celebration of Root’s achievements, the ECB released a video on social media, in which captain Ben Stokes hailed his team-mate. Stokes is not playing in this match because of a hamstring injury.
Stokes added: “The selflessness that he has is an incredible attribute for him.
“He always puts the team first, and the fact that he’s got so many runs is just a bonus for us. He’s an incredible player. It’s going to take a long, long time for someone to come in and break that record.
“Just a great bloke, and an unbelievable feat to score that many runs. But the non-selfishness that he possesses is one thing I think sets him above or sets him apart from anybody else who is going to play for England for a long time.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Joe Root plays for Yorkshire against Glamorgan at Headingley in 2021. His younger brother Billy was in opposition. Billy is getting married today as Joe plays for England in Pakistan.
