England’s talismanic batter, Joe Root, is making remarkable strides towards challenging the legendary record of Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket. Root has been in exceptional form, piling up runs across the globe and establishing himself as a dominant force in the format. With a magnificent century in the second Test against New Zealand, Root has now accumulated 12,886 runs in 151 matches, placing him fifth on the all-time list of Test run-scorers.

Joe Root On The Verge Of Breaking Ricky Ponting‘s Record

Root is just 492 runs behind Ricky Ponting, who is at the second position with 13,378 runs. At the scoring rate of Root, it is very much possible that he will surpass Ponting’s tally soon. Being the only active player in the list of top 10 highest Test run-scorers, Root is at a different level than modern-day batsmen like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson while trying to break Tendulkar’s long-standing record.

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A Stellar Post-COVID Career

Root has really hit the peak since the pandemic. His batting is more refined and explosive than ever. Stepping down from the captaincy and concentrating on batting has made him even more prolific. Since 2021, Root has scored 5,063 runs in 54 Tests with an average of 56.25, which included 19 centuries. Adaptability and innovation with batting make him one of the best in the business today.

Support From Former England Cricketers

Many of England’s former cricketers have been optimistic about Root, including Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan, when it comes to surpassing the Test run record held by Tendulkar. Tendulkar has played 200 Tests between 1989 and 2013, which were concluded with a total of 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78. Tendulkar is the first player to have made over 50 centuries in this format. He ends the Test career with 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries, and nobody has equaled his success in Test cricket yet.

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The Path Ahead For Root

His current form and consistent performance so far in the recent past seem to suggest that he can pose a threat to Tendulkar’s record in the future. His incredible consistency with the ability to score hundreds under various conditions makes the journey of Joe Root for becoming the top run scorer in Test cricket an interesting one.