Former England captain Alastair Cook has tipped Joe Root to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's all-time leading Test runs total after Root made history on Wednesday. During the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, Root became England's leading run scorer in Test cricket, achieving his 35th century.
As Root reached 71 runs before lunch, he eclipsed Cook's previous record of 12,472 runs, moving him to fifth on the all-time list. Tendulkar currently holds the top spot with 15,921 runs, but Cook expressed confidence in Root's potential to overtake the legendary Indian batter.
"I can see him overhauling Sachin Tendulkar's record," Cook remarked while commentating on BBC radio. "You could say Sachin is still the favorite, but just. I don't see Root losing that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years."
Root's remarkable achievement was celebrated by current England captain Ben Stokes, who is sidelined due to injury. In a video shared on social media by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Stokes praised Root's selflessness and dedication to the team.
"The selflessness that he has is an incredible attribute for him," Stokes said. "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."
Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain also lauded Root's performance, with Atherton noting the "twelve years of excellence" Root has delivered since his Test debut in Nagpur against India in 2012. Hussain echoed this sentiment, highlighting Root's skill, temperament, and passion for the game.
