Courtesy: Google
There's always a moment to savour, a moment to cherish and something to hold dear to your heart, when you overcome and outperform a great of the sport. A cricketer of reverence. A figure of poise. A hero that has served the country with honour, valour and pride. That man who was overtaken in some respect will always remain a legend of the English game. The man who overcame the fury of his runs, is on his way to become an all time hero of the sport.
The two have had in common not just the representation of the same country but the swordsmanship with the cricket bat in hand. And, that moment, it must be said, came a few months earlier, actually a little over half a year back in time, for none other than the great Joe Root, when he actually overtook the run tally of Sir Alastair Cook in Test match cricket.
The moment was big, and in an almost lyrical or poetical way, suggested the turn of the tide in world international cricket, a moment to cherish for England, of course. During October of 2024, Joe Root, when batting at Multan against Pakistan, the hosts, went past the Test run tally mounted by dearly loved former England captain and batsman extraordinaire, Alastair Cook. Sir Alastair Cook.
But at that point in time, Sir Alastair Cook's run tally was surpassed by the English batting great, Joe Root, when he hit a staight drive, as magnificent as his own batting, the ball crossing the bowler, Aamir Jamal and reaching the boundary rope.
That was it. The previously held record run tally in Tests was overcome: Joe Root had gone beyond 12,472 test runs and made those beautifully his own. Right now, he stands next to an imposing run tally that reads 13006 runs, being touted as the only man at the moment from a countless lot that can actually overcome the great Sachin Tendulkar's run tally.
Joe Root and Alastair Cook took exactly same time in life to reach 10,000 Test runs milestone
However, the commonality of runs that both Cook and Root, then in pursuit, isn't the only draw here. There's something more that is as arresting in itself as Sir Cook's defensive batting and Root's flowing drives and rasp cuts.
Take a look at this:
When both batters, who have undoubtedly risen as English batting greats, were approaching or let's say, reaching 10,000 career Test match runs, they were of the same age. Yes, both Sir Alastair Cook and Joe Root.
And just what was the age factor then?
Common to both giants of Test match batting: 31 years and 157 days for both!
Of course, it's a common fact that by the time he retired, Sir Alastair Cook, an elegant and technically correct batter had already compiled 12,472 runs in Test match cricket, which by no means is ever a small feat. In so doing he'd 33 Test match centuries.
And right now, the only man that is being billed to overtake the legend Tendulkar for the score of most Test runs, is an Englishman still very much active in the sport. Joe Root, could actually play Test cricket for a further 4 more years.
Whether he ends up scoring more than Sachin's run tally is a discussion for another day but for his tireless and often selfless efforts for England, Root is a bastion of excellence.
