Joe Root has further solidified his position as one of cricket’s greats by overtaking Alastair Cook to become England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer. Root achieved this historic feat during the first Test of England’s series against Pakistan, needing just 71 runs to surpass Cook’s total of 12,472 runs. On Day 3, with a flawlessly timed straight drive, Root accomplished the milestone. Root’s record-breaking run didn’t end there. He is now fifth on the global list of Test run-scorers, sitting behind only Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid.

Alastair Cook’s and Joe Root: Two England’s greats

Cook, the former England captain and Root’s predecessor as the top run-scorer, praised Root for this achievement. Cook, who had held the record with 12,472 runs for several years, fondly remembered being the one to inform Root about his Test debut against India in 2012. Watching Root grow from a promising talent into one of England’s best has been a proud experience for Cook. Notably, Root surpassed Cook’s record in 14 fewer matches, emphasizing his incredible consistency and relentless hunger for runs.

Root’s reaction to breaking the record of Cook

Surprisingly, Root’s reaction to breaking the record was quite understated. He didn’t show much emotion as he passed Cook’s milestone but did embrace several of his teammates, including James Anderson and Ben Stokes, as he left the field. When asked about Root’s subdued response, Cook shared his thoughts on BBC’s Test Match Special:

“I was surprised. He would’ve known about the record, but maybe he’s got bigger goals in mind. He’s probably got bigger fish to fry than me, maybe that explains it. I don’t know what his exact aim is but he hasn’t loss that desire to keep scoring runs,” Cook said.

“Going back to the ranks after holding the captaincy isn’t easy, I was missing something after that, but it’s taken him to another level in terms of consistency. I’ve never seen the hunger he has in anyone’s batting. Everyone has a slight flaw in their technique but with Rooty it’s such a small flaw, you would have to be nitpicking to highlight his weaknesses. He was always working on something, he was always looking to improve and tinkering in a very structured way. It’s just a pleasure to watch him bat now, he’s so easy on the eye,” the 39-year-old added.

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Cook’s bold prediction for the ultimate record

Although Root now holds England’s top spot, his journey is far from complete. Cook believes Root could potentially challenge Sachin Tendulkar’s towering total of 15,921 Test runs. While over 3,000 runs still separate Root from Tendulkar, his current form, with an average above 60 in Tests since 2023, gives him a realistic chance of closing the gap. Cook admitted that Tendulkar’s record remains a huge target, but he backs Root to give it a serious go.

“I can see that. When I retired I remember thinking if Rooty would break my record. I thought he would,” the cricketer-turned commentator remarked.

“Sachin is still the favourite, just, because 3,000 is still a lot of runs. You never know what’s around the corner but it would take a drop-off or an injury for Rooty to stop because I don’t think he’s going to lose his hunger or ability. The only hurdle maybe is the Ashes because something always happens around those series. Those series can do some damage. I think Sachin is just the favourite but I’m backing Rooty to get there,” Cook concluded.

Before eyeing Tendulkar, Root will first aim to surpass the totals of Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs), Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs) and Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs). Cook acknowledged that, with 34 centuries and a 51 average, Root’s career is already legendary. However, he anticipates that Root’s incredible run-scoring will continue to push him higher in cricket’s all-time rankings.

Root’s impact in England’s battle against Pakistan

Root’s contributions were critical during the first Test against Pakistan, where England needed a strong response after Pakistan posted a daunting 556 in the first innings. Root led England’s fightback, helping the team surpass 341/3 and sharing crucial partnerships with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. His continued brilliance with the bat set the stage for a massive  more than 50-run partnership with stand-in captain Harry Brook, as he also smashed his 35th Test century. This century placed him above the legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara, further proving Root’s stature in the cricketing world.

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