Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes Joe Root has the potential to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in Test cricket, provided he maintains his hunger and consistency over the next few years. Root recently surpassed the 12,000-run mark during the Edgbaston Test against the West Indies, becoming only the seventh player to achieve this milestone. Currently, Root has amassed 12,027 runs in 143 Tests at an average of 50.11, with 32 centuries and 63 fifties. He is poised to overtake Kumar Sangakkara and Alastair Cook soon.
Tendulkar tops the all-time list with 15,921 runs from 200 Tests. Ponting, who is second with 13,378 runs from 168 Tests, discussed Root’s chances in The ICC Review, noting that if Root continues to play 10 to 14 Tests annually and scores between 800 to 1,000 runs each year, he could reach Tendulkar’s record within three to four years.
Ponting emphasized that Root’s success will depend on his continued desire to score runs and his current form. “If his hunger’s still there, then there’s every chance he could do it,” Ponting said, acknowledging Root’s recent improvement in converting fifties into hundreds.
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Ponting noted that Root has overcome earlier struggles with converting half-centuries into big scores, significantly improving his conversion rate in recent years. “Almost every time he gets to 50 now, he goes on to make a big hundred. That’s been a real turnaround for him,” Ponting added.
