After becoming England’s highest-ever Test run-scorer with a lengthy century in Multan, Joe Root declared he still had “plenty more left to do”.
On day three of the opening series against Pakistan, Root decisively sealed the accolade by becoming the most prolific batsman in the history of the country with a score of 71, surpassing Sir Alastair Cook’s record of 12,472.
He batted all day to reach 176 not out, demonstrating a wealth of talent, tenacity, and endurance to lead his team to 3-492, only 64 behind the hosts’ 556.
The 33-year-old faced severe cramps, muscle exhaustion, and dehydration in the intense Punjabi heat while holding the crease for more than eight hours, making it more of a test of his physical toughness than his well-known technical skill.
As Root pounded out his 35th Test tonne, he extended another record he inherited from Cook in the summer. He shared stands of 109, 136, and 243 with Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and fellow century-maker Harry Brook (141no).
Among all-time run scorers, only four true greats of the game remain in front of him: Sachin Tendulkar in pole position with 15,921, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, and Rahul Dravid.
The well-liked Yorkshireman, 33, is prepared to continue racking up points to surpass them all.
Although I’m proud, I still think there’s much more work to be done and many more runs to be made,” he remarked.
“Your next hundred is always your best hundred. It would help if you never lost your hunger or willingness to learn new things and improve yourself.
“I’m sure I’ll be looking back on it at some point when I’m finished and be very proud of it but we’ve still got an opportunity to go and win this game which is exciting.”
Duckett was batting alongside Root when he unleashed a record-breaking classical straight drive off Aamer Jamal. It was a momentous occasion, yet the guy who created the record seemed to acknowledge it hardly.
The bpexch app login noted the significance of the feat, highlighting Duckett’s exceptional skill and the pressure he faced in such a crucial moment.
The left-hander gave Root a quick slap on the shoulder after exchanging glove punches, and Root gave only a fleeting wave in the direction of the standing ovation on the adjacent balcony.
Even though he was fully aware, Duckett gave the impression that he was unaware,” he smiled.
“I asked him, and he told me for sure. Being there in the centre with him for that was great. He is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats of English cricket and the game. “With Rooty, it doesn’t always feel like that since he’s humble and doesn’t care about these things.
When he receives hundreds of Test runs, we joke that he’s out of form. Seeing him in this shape and having him around makes for a truly unique experience.”
Jason Gillespie, the Australian coach for Pakistan who managed Yorkshire for five years and worked closely with a teenage Root, remembered their days with nostalgia.
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“Tell me what I need to hear, not what you think I want to hear,” Joe would have asked instructors, as I recall. That taught me a valuable coaching lesson,” Gillespie said. “He always strives to get better, to improve; that was my experience with him.”