Joe Root becomes England's record Test run-scorer with century on day three of first Test against Pakistan
Updated 09/10/2024 at 13:49 GMT+1
Joe Root is now in fifth position on Test cricket's all-time list of run-scorers after he became England's record holder by surpassing Sir Alastair Cook's total. Root achieved the impressive feat during day three of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan - where he starred alongside Harry Brook to leave the visitors trailing by just 64 runs with seven wickets remaining.
'Got to ready yourself for everything' - Root looks ahead to challenging Pakistan series
Video credit: TNT Sports
Joe Root made history as he starred alongside Harry Brook to slash Pakistan’s lead on day three of the first Test in Multan.
England started the day on 96-1 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings score of 556, with Zak Crawley and Root returning to the crease.
However, Crawley’s time did not last long as he flicked Shaheen Afridi’s delivery in the hand of mid-wicket to depart for 78.
There was good news for England, though, as regular opener Ben Duckett - who was unable to bat on day two after injuring his thumb while taking a catch - was declared fit to play.
He got to work quickly and smashed a half century from just 45 deliveries.
Then came the magic moment of the day as Root became England’s all-time record run scorer in Test cricket.
He surpassed Sir Alistair Cook’s tally of 12,472 with a straight drive past bowler Aamir Jamal for four.
Duckett and Root continued to move along nicely after lunch until their 136-run partnership was broken when Duckett was hit on the back leg by Jamal - and England’s review was thrown out.
Harry Brook replaced Duckett and made his mark with a half century from 49 balls, before Root’s special day continued as he hit his first ever century in Pakistan.
England reached tea at 351-3, trailing by 205 runs.
Brook got lucky in the final session as a shot bounced up from the ground and hit his grille before rolling back onto the stumps, but the bails remained intact.
A sumptuous six from Brook took him to 98, before he reached his sixth Test century shortly after.
As Root and Brook continued to eat away at the deficit, they were given a reprieve as they moved to within 87 runs of Pakistan's first innings total.
Naseem Shah clattered Root on the front pad but the umpire was unmoved. Pakistan reviewed but, even though the ball was following on to leg stump, it was not deemed enough to move away from umpire’s call.
Fatigue set in late in the day with Root struggling with cramp on several occasions as he and Brook put on England’s highest ever partnership away from home against Pakistan - overtaking the 233 of Crawley and Duckett from 2022.
They finished the day with a partnership of 243 and will return to the crease tomorrow with Brook on 141 and Root on 176.
England will resume on 492-3, just 64 runs shy of Pakistan’s first innings total with seven wickets remaining.
Root re-writes the record books
Root reached his impressive milestone in 14 Tests fewer than it took Cook to get to the total he ended his career with.
The Yorkshireman hit his 35th century in the format, with the first of those coming against New Zealand in 2013.
Root made his Test debut in December 2012, when he scored 73 in his first innings against India.
His highest Test match score to date is 254, which he hit against Pakistan in 2016 at Old Trafford. That is one of the five times he has reached a double century.
The former England captain - who has led his country in 64 Tests - is now fifth on the all-time list of run-scorers in the format.
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India’s legendary Sachin Tendulkar tops the list with 15,921 runs, ahead of Australia’s Ricky Ponting, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and India’s Rahul Dravid, who complete the top four.
With Dravid on 13,288 runs, Root will no doubt be aiming to chase him down too.
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