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Alastair Cook Makes Huge Joe Root Prediction After English Batter Gets Closer To Tendulkar

Cook makes bold Joe Root prediction [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com] Cook makes bold Joe Root prediction [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com]

There is no stopping Joe Root in Test cricket, and the ongoing Test match Vs Pakistan is a big example of it. With Ben Duckett out with injury, and England virtually playing with 10-men for a while, the visitors needed their best batter to step up, and Root did exactly that.

On the flattest of the tracks in Multan, Root played with a mixture of caution and aggression as he bailed England out of a tricky situation, after they lost the early wicket of Ollie Pope. Pakistan bowlers tried all the permutations and combinations, but they couldn't dismiss Root as the English batter created history on Day 3.

Root backed to achieve the unthinkable

He became England's leading run-getter in Test cricket, surpassing the great, Sir Alastair Cook. Also, he entered into the list of the five highest run-scorers in Test cricket, and is etching closer to the record set by India's Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar had amassed 15,921 runs, and Root currently has 12,489 runs, meaning that the English batter needs 2,832 runs to surpass the great Tendulkar and become the highest run-scorer in Test history.

After Root surpassed Cook, the latter made a bold prediction, and stated that Root has the capability to do the unthinkable and go past Tendulkar's record.

“I can see him overhauling Sachin Tendulkar’s record,” Cook said on Test Match Special. “When I retired, I thought there was every chance that my record will be broken. I thought only the effects of captaincy and the hunger that takes out of you would stop him. I think the fact that Ben Stokes has taken over the captaincy has helped Root.

“You could say Sachin is still the favourite but just. All great players who played for a long time have been lucky with injuries. You just never know what’s around the corner but it has to be something like it that could stop him.

Root set to overhaul Gavaskar's century record

Joe Root is etching closer to his 35th Test century and in the process will surpass Sunil Gavaskar's tally of 34 Test tons. Root, if he crosses the 100-run mark, will be behind Tendulkar's Test century tally by 16 tons.

Tendulkar had 51 Test centuries, and Root currently stands at 34. Ahead of Root are Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Tendulkar.