To be able to break Sachin Tendulkar’s test run record, Joe Root still requires just 3,544 runs in his test career. And, hailing as England’s one of the greatest batsmen with 12,377 runs in 145 matches, he would be easily able to surpass the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s lifetime record. The 33-year-old English cricketer is certain to continue his cricketing career in the upcoming years and there are chances that he will break Sachin‘s test run record since he won’t announce his retirement soon.
Root is in a peak form of his career, and exhibited great form in the ongoing 3-match test series against Sri Lanka. Especially, after scoring back-to-back centuries in the 2nd test match, the cricketing world is eager to watch England’s right-handed batter break Sachin’s record.
Following his stunning performance against Sri Lanka, Joe Root currently ranks at the 7th position among the list of batters with the most runs in his test career.
Interestingly, Joe Root’s record of 34 hundred makes him rank at the top of the list of England batters with the most centuries in test cricket, thereby overtaking the position of former English captain Alastair Cook’s 33 centuries. He still needs to achieve 18 centuries in the red-ball format to take over Sachin’s leading position of achieving the most centuries by any batter in test cricket. Also, Root has the maximum chance to become the first batsman in test cricket history to reach 16,000 runs.
Joe Root’s Performance vs Sri Lanka in Home Test Series 2024
Ranking as the leading run scorer in the present home test series against Sri Lanka, Joe Root scored 350 runs from 512 balls played in 4 innings. It includes 2 centuries and a half-century at an impressive average of 116.67 and 68.36 strike rate. Additionally, he holds the record of highest individual score, best batting average, most centuries and half centuries in this series.
Here are the impressive scores of Joe Root in the first two out of three test matches vs Sri Lanka listed below in detail:
- 1st test match:
- 1st innings: 42 runs from 57 balls (including 4 fours) at a strike rate of 73.68.
- 2nd innings: *62 runs from 128 balls (including 2 fours) at a strike rate of 48.44.
- 2nd test match:
- 1st innings: 143 runs from 206 balls (including 18 fours) at a strike rate of 69.42.
- 2nd innings: 103 runs from 121 balls (including 10 fours) at a strike rate of 85.12.
Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar: Stats in Test Cricket
Sachin Tendulkar played 200 matches in his 24-year test career, starting from his debut in 1989 to his last game in 2013, which is the most by any player ever in the history of cricket. And, he scored 15,921 runs in 329 innings, which includes 6 double centuries 51 centuries, and 68 half-centuries in the red ball format at an average of 53.79, strike rate of 54.08, and his highest score of 248 runs.
In comparison, Joe Root played 145 test matches in his 12-year test career, from his debut against India in 2012 to the recent game against Sri Lanka in 2024. He scored 12,377 runs in 265 innings at an average of 50.93 and a strike rate of 56.98.
Compared to India’s legendary cricketer, Root impressed the cricketing world in terms of achieving the highest individual score of 254 runs but holds a record of just 34 centuries and 54 half-centuries, along with 5 double centuries. However, it is expected that the English batter would easily play more than 200 test matches since there are many upcoming matches in the red ball format of his career.
Reasons Why Joe Root Has Chances to Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Record
Here are the valid reasons that highlight the fact why Joe Root can break Sachin Tendulkar’s test run record:
1. Root’s Annual Matches in Test Cricket:
As Joe Root inches towards achieving 13,000 runs in test cricket, he ranks at the 7th position in the list among other batters who scored the most runs in test cricket among these batters:
- Sachin Tendulkar (INDIA): 15,921 runs
- Ricky Ponting (AUSTRALIA): 13,378 runs
- Jacques Kallis (SOUTH AFRICA): 13,289 runs
- Rahul Dravid (INDIA): 13,289 runs
- Alastair Cook (ENGLAND): 12,472 runs
- Kumar Sangakkara (SRI LANKA): 12,400 runs
- Joe Root (ENGLAND): 12,377 runs
It wouldn’t be a difficult task for Joe Root to score an additional 3,500 to 4,000 runs in his test career to top the charts as the leading run scorer in red ball cricket.
2. Consistent Performance in Test Cricket:
Joe Root’s average of more than 50 in test cricket highlights his consistency to score huge runs for his team, which would be crucial in the quest to break Sachin’s greatest-ever records.
3. Upcoming Test Matches in a Year:
Joe Root will be a part of England’s action-packed schedule in the upcoming days which includes the test series against Sri Lanka (the last game in the series), Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and India. As a result, there are opportunities for the English middle-order batter to score runs easily in the next two years.
4. Age, Physical Fitness, and Longevity Challenges:
At the age of 33 years, Joe Root has made an essential contribution to his team and has worked hard to maintain his physical fitness levels. However, it is a challenge for him to maintain his peak form for at least four to five years more to beat Tendulkar’s record. If Root continues playing till 2028, he will reach 37 years by that time to have a realistic chance which requires a long-term commitment from him in terms of physical stamina and mental fitness.
5. Root’s Annual matches in Test Cricket:
On average, Root played 11 test matches yearly, over the past four years, which equates to approximately 22 innings per year, thereby providing sufficient chances to create a sensation in the red ball format.
6. Final Thoughts:
Since Joe Root Stepped down as England’s red-ball captain in 2022, it provided him ample space to prolong his cricketing career and granted him to focus only on his batting skills.
Ultimately, Joe Root’s talent and commitment will be crucial in his journey to break Sachin’s remarkable record. However, England’s core batter not only requires outstanding consistency and longevity but also a bit of fortune to achieve a historic feat in his career.