Sachin Tendulkar & Joe Root in a collage. Image Credit - AFP
Test Cricket is the toughest format in the sport, while India's Sachin Tendulkar is the regarded as the pioneer of it. With 15921 runs in the format, the Little Master sits at the top of the mountain with the most runs in Tests. However, England's Joe Root is not too far from Tendulkar.
With 13943 Test runs, the modern-day great sits second on the ladder in just 298 innings, while Tendulkar had played 329 innings in his illustrious career.
At 35 years, Root still has good time left in his career as he only plays the longest format consistently. It is worth noting that the Little Master also played till the age of 40.
Joe Root on breaking Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record
While applauding the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar and what he really did for cricket, Joe Root spoke highly about the Indian maestro. But before that, he admitted that he is chasing Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record for most runs in Test cricket.
"Well, I get asked it enough times now that I can’t really ignore it even if I try to,” Joe Root said while talking to The Athletic.
"It's remarkable what Sachin Tendulkar achieved in the game. You have to believe me when I say that to even be in the conversation with him is enough for me. The guy made his Test debut before I was born and played in my Test debut! His longevity in itself is remarkable and then you look at the runs he got in Test cricket.... but not only that, he's got 49 ODI hundreds, too," he added while praising Tendulkar.
Also Read: England Players Announce Boycott Of Test Cricket For This World Tournament
Joe Root shares mindset, technical changes needed to succeed
Although Joe Root is regarded as the best in Tests among in comtempories like Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith, his numbers in white-ball formats are not bad either.
The Englishman, who contributed highly in England's triumph in the 2019 World Cup, also mentioned how he has evolved due to the demands of modern-day cricket.
"I'm always looking to evolve, to try and add things to my batting."
Furthermore, he talked about his batting technique and preparation, achieving a mental clarity that is actually very difficult for batters.
"To make sure that I feel as compact and as technically sound as I can be so that when the actual games come around I can think tactically and play what's right in front of me rather than worrying about technical stuff or anything else out in the middle. It sounds so simple but when I'm at the crease, I just want to be playing the game," Joe Root added.
What's next for Joe Root?
The former England captain Joe Root is nearly 2,000 Test runs behind Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record. If fit, he will be featuring in 10 Test matches by March 2027, which would allow him to get even closer to Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of most runs in the format.
It is worth mentioning that Root has been in stunning form since 2021, slamming over 6000 runs and hitting 24 Test centuries in the period. Overall, the English number 4 has registered 41 tons and 66 half-centuries in the longest format.
Root and England will be next seen against New Zealand in the first of the three-match Test series, starting at the Lord’s. After that, they will host Pakistan in a three-game affair, before touring to South Africa for as many Tests. In March next year, England will face archrivals Australia in a one-off Test match to mark 150 years of the prestigious format.
Also Read: Kavya Maran Openly Deems Krunal Pandya's Bowling Illegal
