Sir Alastair Cook has backed Joe Root to catch Sachin Tendulkar and become the leading run-scorer in the history of Test cricket after he broke his record to become England’s most prolific batter.
Root surpassed his former captain’s tally of 12,472 Test runs on day three of the series opener against Pakistan in Multan.
The Yorkshireman, who also captained England, broke Cook’s record in 14 fewer Tests and is now behind only Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar in terms of Test runs.
It was Cook who informed Root that he would be making his Test debut against India in 2012 and he has since made 34 Test centuries, establishing himself as England’s greatest batter and an all-time legend.
Root still trails Tendulkar by more than 3,000 runs but looks set to rival the Indian legend and leading run-scorer in Test history, having averaged over 60 since the start of 2023.
The 33-year-old barely reacted as he surpassed Cook but embraced several of his teammates – including the recently-retired James Anderson and injured captain Ben Stokes – as he made his way off the field.
Asked if he was surprised by Root’s reaction to reaching the milestone, Cook said on BBC Test Match Special: ‘I actually was. Quite clearly he would have known [about the record], you just do.
‘He’s probably got bigger fish to fry than me, maybe that explains it. I don’t know what his exact aim is but he hasn’t loss that desire to keep scoring runs.
‘Going back to the ranks after holding the captaincy isn’t easy, I was missing something after that, but it’s taken him to another level in terms of consistency.
‘I’ve never seen the hunger he has in anyone’s batting. Everyone has a slight flaw in their technique but with Rooty it’s such a small flaw, you would have to be nitpicking to highlight his weaknesses.
‘He was always working on something, he was always looking to improve and tinkering in a very structured way. It’s just a pleasure to watch him bat now, he’s so easy on the eye.’
Before setting his sights on Tendulkar, Root must first pass fellow India great Dravid, South Africa legend Kallis and ex-Australia captain Ponting.
Cook admits the sheer volume of runs means Tendulkar is the ‘favourite’ to see off Root’s challenge but has backed his former teammate to make history.
‘I can see that,’ Cook said when pressed on if he believes Root will surpass Tendulkar.
‘When I retired I remember thinking if Rooty would break my record. I thought he would.
‘The fact Stokesy has taken over the captaincy has helped him too because they’re such good mates.
‘Sachin is still the favourite, just, because 3,000 is still a lot of runs. You never know what’s around the corner but it would take a drop-off or an injury for Rooty to stop because I don’t think he’s going to lose his hunger or ability.
‘The only hurdle maybe is the Ashes because something always happens around those series. Those series can do some damage.
‘I think Sachin is just the favourite but I’m backing Rooty to get there.’
Root’s Test runs have come at an average of 51 and his scintillating career has so far produced 34 hundreds and 65 fifties.
He has scored tons against seven nations but is still searching for his first three-figure score in Australia. England travel Down Under next winter to try to win back the Ashes.
Ex-captain Michael Vaughan rates Root as the best batsman England has ever produced and also believes he can run down Tendulkar.
‘Root is already cricketing royalty and there is no doubt in my eyes that he has become England’s greatest batsman already,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘No one has played the different forms of the game better than him, and he has got the runs to show for it.
‘If he plays as long as I am sure he will, he will overtake Sachin Tendulkar and be the leading Test run-scorer.
‘More than just being a great player, he does it all with a smile on his face, and is simply the greatest example for young kids to follow.’