Joe Root Surpasses Ricky Ponting: Second Only to Tendulkar in Test Run Charts
In the vibrant setting of Manchester, Joe Root achieved a remarkable feat on Friday, stepping up to the second spot in the all-time Test run-scorers list. This milestone came as he scored his 38th century while England aimed for a crucial victory against India in a thrilling series.
As the fourth Test at Old Trafford progressed, Ben Stokes’ team, which was already leading the five-match series 2-1, ended the third day with an impressive score of 544-7. This placed them 186 runs ahead of the struggling Indian side. Root produced an exceptional performance, scoring exactly 150 runs. With this achievement, only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who has an astounding 15,921 Test runs, stands ahead of the 34-year-old English batsman, who now has a total of 13,409 runs to his name.
Earlier in the game, Ollie Pope contributed significantly with 71 runs, forming a vital partnership of 144 runs for the third wicket alongside Root. However, Pope’s innings was curtailed by Washington Sundar, who also took Harry Brook’s wicket, momentarily giving India some hope. Yet, captain Ben Stokes, who ended the day unbeaten on 77 runs after dealing with some cramps, ensured that England maintained their grip on the match.
Stokes celebrated Root’s milestone from the other end as Root brought his total to 13,379 runs with a single, moving ahead of the great Australian batsman Ricky Ponting. The former Australian captain, speaking on Sky Sports, praised Root, saying, “This is a great moment in history. The way his career is going, there is absolutely no reason he won’t surpass Tendulkar.”
Root’s 38th Test century also tied him with Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara for the fourth position for the most centuries in Test cricket history—a truly remarkable achievement. Former England captain Michael Atherton noted, “It has been a privilege to watch him achieve these milestones and see his career unfold.”
Although Root did not attend the post-match press conference due to cramps, vice-captain Pope shared his admiration for Root’s dedication and passion for the game. He stated, “His hunger and drive are incredible. You can see every batter here has learned something from Joe. He is a fantastic person, both on and off the field, inspiring the next generation.”
India’s bowling attack struggled to find a solution to tackle Root’s relentless approach, with the team’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, expressing that Root has very few weaknesses in his game, which is why he has amassed over 13,000 runs.
The day began with England resuming at 225-2 after a blazing opening partnership of 166 runs in just 32 overs between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Root and Pope aimed to build further, though Root faced an initial scare when India reviewed for lbw after missing a glance off Mohammed Siraj. Fortunately for him, the review didn’t go in India’s favor.
Root faced another moment of danger when a throw from Ravindra Jadeja nearly found him short of his ground, but he managed to survive. He then began his climb up the Test run-scorers list, moving past Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis into third place.
As innings unfolded, spin bowling finally became India’s weapon of choice, where pace failed to make an impact due to the absence of injured bowler Nitish Kumar Reddy. Pope, who had played well, was dismissed shortly after lunch after getting caught at slip off Sundar.
Despite England losing a few wickets, Stokes held fort with a solid half-century, showcasing his form until cramps hindered him for a brief moment. Root, meanwhile, reached his century in 178 balls with a beautifully placed four against debutant pacer Anshul Kamboj. He went on to reach 150 before being stumped off a sharply turning delivery from Jadeja.
As England reached 528-7, it signaled the return of Stokes, who is arguably England’s most effective bowler in the ongoing series. His resilience and determination would be crucial as England looked to secure a significant win against India.
With Root setting new records and inspiring a generation, cricket fans worldwide cannot wait to see what he will achieve next.
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