At the age of 33, England’s Joe Root became the highest-scoring player for his country, notching his 34th Test century in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Root has thrived even as England’s approach to cricket has shifted under Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball,” which emphasizes a more aggressive style of play.
Despite these changes, Root has consistently piled up runs, reaching milestones that few can dream of. Currently sitting at 7th on the all-time list of Test run-scorers with 12,377 runs, Root has a genuine chance of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar to claim the top spot.
When asked about the possibility of becoming the highest run-scorer in Test cricket, Root emphasized that his focus remains on contributing to his team’s success. “I just want to play, try to do my bit for the team, and score as many runs as I can and see where it takes me. But there’s no better feeling than winning a Test match. Scoring a hundred is obviously amazing, but the main focus is always on how it helps the team. Hopefully, with this mentality, there will be more days like this,” Root said in a video shared by England Cricket.
Also Read: How Close Is Joe Root to Breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Records?
With a few years of cricket still ahead and his fitness intact, Root has a realistic shot at surpassing Tendulkar to become the top run-scorer in Test cricket history.