Joe Root breaks silence on approaching Tendulkar's all-time Test record
What's the story
Joe Root, England's star batter, is closing in on Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs in Test cricket.
Currently ranked seventh among the leading run-scorers in Tests, Root has amassed 12,377 runs from 145 matches.
This achievement comes as he continues to display exceptional form over recent years and steadily climb the ranks of all-time highest run scorers in this format of the game.
Record-breaking performance
Root surpasses Cook's century record, eyes top run-scorer title
In the second Test against Sri Lanka, Root scored twin centuries with a quick-fire 103 off 121 balls in the second innings on Day 3.
This feat marked his 34th ton, surpassing Alastair Cook's record of 33 centuries and making him England's leading centurion.
He is now just 95 runs short of overtaking Cook as England's all-time highest run-scorer in Test cricket.
Team-first mentality
Root's focus remains on team contribution, not records
Despite his proximity to Tendulkar's record, Root maintains that he is not pursuing any specific record.
His primary focus is on contributing as much as possible to the team's success.
"I just want to play, and try, and do my bit for the team and score the runs as many as I can and see where we get to," Root stated in a video shared by England Cricket.
Twitter Post
Here is the video!
Joe Root. Thirty three Test centuries. pic.twitter.com/Ty7drG9zfg
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 29, 2024
Consistent performance
Root's impressive form makes Tendulkar's record within reach
Tendulkar, who leads the history of Test cricket with 15,921 runs from 200 matches, is now just 3,544 runs ahead of Root.
Given Root's consistent performance over the past three years, it seems likely that he could surpass Tendulkar.
Since 2021 alone, Root has scored an impressive 4,554 runs from 48 matches at an average of 56.92 with 17 hundreds and 15 fifties to his name.
Future prospects
Root's upcoming matches could boost his run tally
Following the series against Sri Lanka, Root has six more Tests scheduled for this year, three each against Pakistan and New Zealand.
These upcoming matches provide him with ample opportunities to further increase his run tally.
His twin centuries in the current series have already set a daunting target of 483 runs for Sri Lanka, demonstrating his potential to significantly impact games with his batting prowess.