Joe Root now sits second on the record of all-time Take a look at run-scorers – and there’s a greater than first rate likelihood he finally ends up prime of the pile earlier than his profession is over.
The England batter pushed previous Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting whereas scoring 150 – his thirty eighth Take a look at ton – on day three of the fourth Take a look at in opposition to India at Emirates Outdated Trafford and it’s now solely Sachin Tendulkar protecting him off the summit.
Root has a solution to go to eclipse The Little Grasp’s tally of 15,921 – he wants an extra 2,513 runs to turn out to be No 1 – however on the comparatively younger age of 34, Tendulkar’s file appears attainable.
Will Root eclipse Tendulkar?
Sky Sports activities Cricket’s’ Michael Atherton:
“Root averages about 85 runs a Take a look at match, so he’d doubtless want 30 Take a look at matches to stand up to Sachin.
“You by no means know what lies forward when it comes to freak accidents, sport is usually a merciless mistress, however given a good wind he ought to be as much as Tendulkar in round two and a half years.
“Given how he’s playing right now – the best he’s ever played – and given there’s no diminishing of his love and desire for the game, the numbers will likely take care of themselves.”
Solely three gamers have extra Take a look at centuries than Joe Root
Sky Sports activities Cricket’s Ricky Ponting:
“The way Root’s career his gone, there is absolutely no reason why he will not go past Tendulkar.
“He has remodeled from somebody who could not kick on from fifty to get 100. Now it is nearly like each time he will get to that mark it is a hundred – and an enormous hundred!
“I averaged over 60 after 100 Test matches, but then had a pretty dramatic drop off but because Joe’s technique is so good, I think he’s going to have less problems than others.”
You take a look at all of the batters within the altering room and everybody has picked up one thing from Joe. Not essentially technique-wise however extra the best way he goes about his cricket and his coaching. The best way he’s with the followers, he’s a job mannequin for the subsequent technology coming via.
Root’s England team-mate Ollie Pope:
“He loves playing for England in Test cricket more than anything so I’m sure if his body allows…he’ll obviously be driven to make it to No 1.
“I feel he simply desires to maintain taking part in for so long as he can.
“The excitement he still has to play Test cricket, the hunger he has for it, I wouldn’t be surprised if he can chase Tendulkar down.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Ollie Pope speaks in glowing phrases about ‘function mannequin’ Root and explains what different gamers have learnt from him
What makes ‘problem-solver’ Root so good?
Root’s immense Take a look at haul – which now stands at 13,409 – has come 11 matches faster than Ponting’s 13,357, and one innings fewer, with the previous England captain having fun with a specific purple patch in recent times.
Throughout Root’s first 97 Assessments he struggled along with his conversion fee, scoring solely 17 centuries to 49 fifties, however in his 60 caps because the begin of 2021 he has notched a staggering 21 tons, changing greater than half of his half-centuries.
Ponting added: “The first thing that comes to mind for me is that he’s just a classical Test match batsman.
“He by no means appears underneath stress, by no means appears rushed, all the time appears in command of what he desires to do – whatever the bowler and circumstances.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Sky Sports activities pundits Nasser Hussain and Ricky Ponting talk about what makes Root so good
“Like all of the greats, he finds a way through experience to not make mistakes. He puts a high price on his wicket.
“What makes the perfect gamers the finest is that they’re nice problem-solvers.
“Root, for a period of his career, had a problem with lbw, getting trapped on his crease. He was pushed back to balls he could have potentially come forward to.
“So what’s he carried out? He is developed and moved over time from having his again foot on the crease line to 6 inches exterior of the crease line, shifting nearer to the bowler to remove the lbw.
“It is small modifications, however it’s not a simple factor to do once you’re so set in your methods together with your approach and your routines.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Root secured his thirty eighth Take a look at century on day three in opposition to India at Emirates Outdated Trafford
“You talk about the skill and class but you can’t underestimate the mental capacity side of things as well. He still has that hunger and desire to continue to find ways to improve and get better.
“Belief me, that does not get simpler the older you get.”
Watch day four of the fourth Test between England and India live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am on Saturday (11am first ball), or stream with out a contract.
England vs India – outcomes and schedule
All video games at 11am UK and Eire; all on Sky Sports activities
