Joe Root, the star batter of the England cricket team, etched his name in history by becoming the first player to score 5,000 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC). This remarkable feat was accomplished on Day 2 of the first Test match against Pakistan in Multan.
Root entered the match needing just 27 runs to reach the milestone and achieved it by scoring 32 off 54 balls, including two boundaries. With this, his total in the WTC now stands at 5,005 runs from 59 matches. Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne follows with 3,904 runs, while Steve Smith ranks third with 3,484 runs.
Root on the Verge of Breaking Alastair Cook’s Record
In addition to his WTC achievement, Root is on the brink of surpassing another significant milestone—becoming England’s top scorer in Test cricket. He is just 39 runs away from overtaking former captain Alastair Cook in this regard.
Root’s steady performance during the Pakistan Test match helped stabilize England’s innings after they lost stand-in skipper Ollie Pope early on. Facing Pakistan’s formidable total of 556, Root approached each ball with caution and focused on strike rotation, ensuring England didn’t lose further wickets after Pope’s dismissal.
Chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s Record
Root is also closing in on one of Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic records. Having crossed 1,000 Test runs in 2024, this marks the fifth calendar year in which the 33-year-old has achieved this feat. Only one other player, Tendulkar, has managed to score 1,000-plus Test runs in six calendar years, a record Root could equal in the near future.
Root now joins the ranks of cricketing legends like Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, and Alastair Cook, all of whom have five calendar years with over 1,000 Test runs. With more opportunities ahead, Root could soon make further history.
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