Ricky Ponting sees no reason why Joe Root shouldn’t eventually surpass Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in Test cricket history.
Ponting, who had been busy coaching in the United States’ Major League Cricket, made his first commentary appearance of the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford. Coincidentally, it was right when Root became the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, overtaking Ponting himself, that Ponting was speaking into the microphone.
Before batting in this Test against India, Root was fifth on the all-time Test run-scorers list. But on Friday morning at Old Trafford, he passed Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis, moving up to third. Later, with his 38th Test century, he also overtook Kumar Sangakkara.
Fueled by these milestones, Root pushed further. When he reached 120 runs, he surpassed Ponting’s total of 13,378 runs to claim second place.
Early in the commentary, former England captain Michael Atherton congratulated Root. Ponting, standing nearby with the microphone, also extended his best wishes.
“Congratulations Joe Root, fantastic. Now second on the list, unbeaten on 120. The crowd here, the knowledgeable Old Trafford spectators, all standing together applauding…”
“Only one ahead now. Around two and a half thousand runs to go [behind Tendulkar]… but given how his career has progressed over the last three to five years, there’s absolutely no reason why he can’t do it.”
Until 2020, Root’s biggest criticism was his inability to consistently convert fifties into centuries and play big innings. By then, he had scored 17 centuries and 49 fifties in 97 Tests, with a batting average of 47.99.
From 2021 onwards, Root has unleashed a remarkable run-scoring spree, piling up centuries almost like waves in a flood.
In the last 60 Tests alone, he has scored 21 centuries and 17 fifties, amassing 5,586 runs at an average of 56.42.
His career batting average, which had dipped below 48, has now risen to 51.17.
Ponting highlighted this incredible consistency during commentary:
“He’s been a fantastic cricketer across 157 Test matches in his career. Such consistency, right? It’s hard to even remember when he’s had a poor patch for any extended period.”
“In the last three to four years, whenever he’s started well and passed fifty, it’s felt like a hundred was inevitable. Not just hundreds, but big hundreds — a hallmark of a great batsman.”
In this innings, Root reached 150 runs, marking his sixteenth Test score over 150. That too surpassed Ponting’s count of fifteen such scores. He’s also closing in on Tendulkar’s record for 200+ scores: Tendulkar has 20, followed by Don Bradman (18), Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara (19 each).
Not only has Root passed Tendulkar’s run tally, but he is also on track to break Tendulkar’s record for 200 Test matches played — a feat England’s heavy Test schedule and Root’s fitness make highly likely.
At just 34 years old, Root has shown remarkable durability, with very few injuries. Last year alone, he played 17 Tests, matched the same number in 2017, and in the two years before and after that, he played 15 and 14 Tests respectively.
Tendulkar took 24 years to play 200 Tests, while Root has played 157 Tests in just 12 and a half years.
