Joe Root reached two impressive milestones in Test cricket — all in a short 29-run innings.
Records continue to fall for the English star, whose consistent form in the longest format has now brought him even closer to the greats of the game. During his first-innings knock in the ongoing Oval Test against India, Root added two more feathers to his cap. Remarkably, in one of those, he even surpassed Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Root, who had smashed a brilliant 150 in the previous match, couldn’t replicate that form this time. On Friday, he was dismissed for just 29. But during that brief stay at the crease, he climbed above Tendulkar in a prestigious Test record.
The England star now has 7,220 runs at home, overtaking Tendulkar’s 7,216 runs in India. That puts Root second on the list of most Test runs scored at home. The record still belongs to Ricky Ponting, who scored 7,578 runs in Australia. Root, however, has a realistic shot at surpassing Ponting as well.
The 34-year-old also became the first batter in Test history to score 2,000 runs at home against India. Root now has 2,006 runs in England against the Asian powerhouse. Ponting comes next, with 1,893 runs against India in Australia.
On Day 2 of the Oval Test, Root came to the crease after Zak Crawley’s dismissal. The right-hander, who is now the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, began confidently. But his innings was cut short by a sharp delivery from Mohammad Siraj.
The Indian pacer trapped Root lbw with a delivery that jagged back in. Even a review couldn’t save him. Root ended with a 45-ball 29, laced with 6 boundaries.
