Root rising: England star surpasses Ponting, eyes Tendulkar’s Test record

Dubai: Joe Root took another giant stride towards cricketing immortality on Friday, overtaking Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. With a single on Day 3 of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Root crossed Ponting’s 13,378-run mark — just hours after passing Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis.

Now, only one man remains ahead of him: Sachin Tendulkar.

The Indian icon retired in 2013 with 15,921 runs from 200 Tests, a peak that has stood unchallenged for over a decade. But the elegant Englishman, aged 34, is now within touching distance — just 2,662 runs away — and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Since relinquishing England’s Test captaincy in 2022, Root has enjoyed a prolific second wind. He has scored 3,878 runs in 45 Tests since the start of that year, including several match-defining centuries. In his last 60 Tests, his average hovers around 93 runs per match. At that pace, he would need around 28 more Tests to surpass Tendulkar — well within reach in the next two to three years if he stays fit.

Root’s response to the milestones at Old Trafford was characteristically understated: a wave to the crowd after surpassing Kallis, and a thumbs-up after overtaking Ponting. But his peers didn’t hold back.

“Magnificent from Root. This is a great moment in history,” said Ponting on Sky Sports. “There’s absolutely no reason why he won’t go past Tendulkar.”

Genius and England's greatest

Former England captains also lined up with praise. Alastair Cook, whom Root replaced atop England’s all-time run charts last year, called him a “genius” and “England’s greatest.” Nasser Hussain has described him as a once-in-a-generation talent.

Root, who began his first-class career quietly with Yorkshire in 2010, made his Test debut in India two years later, scoring a gritty 73 in Nagpur. Since then, the runs have flowed across continents — with the notable exception of Australia, where he is yet to score a century.

His journey has not been without setbacks. He was dropped during the 2013/14 Ashes whitewash in Australia, but bounced back with a double century at Lord’s against Sri Lanka and centuries against India at home.

Alongside Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli, Root forms part of the modern game’s famed “Big Four.” But with Kohli retired from Tests and Smith and Williamson in their twilight, Root is now arguably in a class of his own.

Flourishing under Bazball

As captain, he led England in a record 64 Tests, scoring heavily even as the team faltered. In 2021, he amassed 1,708 runs at 61 — earning the ICC’s Test Cricketer of the Year honour. Since stepping down, he has flourished under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, adapting Bazball to suit his own classical style.

With 38 Test centuries, an average over 50, and unmatched consistency, Root has already earned a place among the greats. But the final frontier looms large: Tendulkar’s towering record.

Few would bet against him now.