Reckoned as the modern-day great, especially when it comes to Test cricket, England’s Joe Root has his eyes now set on one of the long-standing records of most runs in the longest format. It is to be noted that Joe Root (13943) sits just next after legend Sachin Tendulkar (15921) in the list of players to score most runs in Test cricket. With England set to host New Zealand for a three-match Test series, Sachin’s record remains in fray.
Speaking to The Athletic, Root encountered this question once again after multiple times trying to evade it. The leading run-scorer from England began to answer, lauding the former Indian cricketer while adding that it feels great to be even in conversation with him. “The guy made his Test debut before I was born and played in my Test debut! His longevity in itself is remarkable, and then you look at the runs he got in Test cricket… but not only that, he’s got 50 ODI hundreds, too,” Root said.
Always looking to evolve: Joe Root
The England batter also acknowledged how difficult it becomes to continue the level of performance knowing that the spotlight remains on him, indirectly admitting that he might be able to break it soon. While speaking of his form, the England stalwart said,
“I’m always looking to evolve, to try and add things to my batting. To make sure that I feel as compact and as technically sound as I can be so that when the actual games come around, I can think tactically and play what’s right in front of me rather than worrying about technical stuff or anything else out in the middle.”
The Yorkshire-born has been in sensational form in the longest format since 2020. Just 1978 runs shy away from overtaking Sachin Tendulkar’s run-tally, Root will look to surpass this feat in the upcoming Test series against the Kiwis as he continues to top the charts among the Fab 4, including Virat Kohli, Steven Smith and Kane Williamson.
Sachin Tendulkar vs Joe Root in Test
| Player | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 200 | 329 | 15921 | 248* | 53.78 | 51 | 68 |
| Joe Root | 163 | 298 | 13943 | 262 | 51.07 | 41 | 66 |
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