There’s talk Joe Root could become the all-time top Test run-scorer and it’s hard to see him being beaten. Sachin Tendulkar has the record with 15,921 in 200 games. Root is 34 and has 13,270. If he keeps going and stays fit he might just get Tendulkar.
He’s currently 5th on the list with Rahul Dravid (13,288), Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Ricky Ponting (13,378) in front of him.
Ravi Shastri, India’s former coach, thinks Root has about 4 years of cricket left and will have 19,000 Test runs by the time he retires. Shastri said this while commentating for Sky Sports during the 2nd day of the India v England Test in Manchester. He pointed out Root’s age and the number of games he’s played (157) and said he’ll pass the three players ahead of him in about 3 more Test matches.
Shastri said Root has about 40 Test matches left, Tendulkar played 200. He thinks Root’s youth and form give him an edge and he’ll end up 3,000 runs ahead of Tendulkar.
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Michael Atherton, also commentating and a former England captain, said Sky Sports statistician Benedict Bermange calculated Root has a 60.28% chance of breaking Tendulkar’s record.
Shastri joked this wouldn’t be good news for India, especially as bedtime is approaching. Atherton said Root will get some curses from the fans in Mumbai.
Atherton then said if Root breaks the record it might be unbeatable because Test cricket is dying. He thinks players will play fewer Test matches in the future.
Shastri agreed and said this will motivate Root who knows the landscape of the game is changing with three formats.
