Joe Root has cemented his place in cricketing history by becoming England’s highest Test run-scorer, surpassing Sir Alastair Cook’s record of 12,472 runs. Joe Root achieved this remarkable feat during the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, when he elegantly drove Aamer Jamal straight down the ground to reach 71 runs, thus breaking Cook’s record. This milestone marks another high point in Joe Root’s illustrious career, which has seen him become one of the most consistent and accomplished Test batsmen of his generation.
Joe Root, 33, accomplished the record in his 147th Test match, a remarkable 14 Tests fewer than Cook. His debut came in 2012 against India in Nagpur, and since then, he has accumulated 34 Test centuries, with a top score of 254 against Pakistan. Joe Root now ranks fifth on the all-time global list of Test run-scorers, trailing only India’s Rahul Dravid, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis, Australia’s Ricky Ponting, and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who leads the list with 15,921 runs. With Joe Root’s current form and hunger for runs, there is speculation that he could challenge even Tendulkar’s formidable record if he maintains his level of play for the next few years.
Averaging just over 50, Joe Root has been in outstanding form, averaging 61 since the start of 2023. His remarkable consistency has been evident throughout his career, but especially after he stepped down as England’s Test captain. Former record-holder Alastair Cook lauded Joe Root’s achievement, praising his hunger, determination, and elegant style of batting. Joe Root’s technical adjustments, particularly his increased forward movement against pacers, have significantly reduced his vulnerability to lbw dismissals—a tactical evolution that has been a hallmark of his post-captaincy renaissance.
The milestone came on the same day as a personal celebration for Joe Root, with his younger brother Billy getting married in south Wales. However, cricket remained at the forefront of Joe Root’s mind as he scored a brilliant century later in the day, his 35th in Test cricket, further solidifying his status as one of the game’s modern greats.
Joe Root’s achievement has drawn widespread praise from cricketing legends and commentators alike, with many suggesting that his final run tally could stand as a record that might never be beaten in English cricket.
