England’s veteran batter Joe Root scored his 32nd Test century, equalling the tally of his contemporaries Kane Williamson and Steve Smith. Joe Root also neared the 12,000-run mark in Test cricket which has been achieved by only six batters in the history of the format. As England’s 241-run win over West Indies at Trent Bridge, Nottingham to seal the series, former England captain Michael Vaughan has predicted that Joe Root will eventually be able to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs in Test cricket.
Premier England batter Joe Root registered his name in the record books with a sublime century against West Indies in the second Test. Joe Root continued his terrific form with the bat and smashed his 32nd Test century to move up in the tally of most tons in the longest format. The former England captain hit 122 runs off 178 balls laced with ten boundaries. He brought up his century in style with a boundary and equaled Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Steve Waugh’s tally of 32 Test tons.
Joe Root eyes Cook’s record
The 33-year-old needs 3,982 more runs to break Tendulkar’s record. However, Joe Root is not far away from becoming the highest run-scorer in Tests for England. Former England opener Alastair Cook has scored 12,472 runs from 291 innings at an average of 46.95 including 33 centuries and 57 fifties. Joe Root is in eighth place with 11,940 runs from 260 innings at an average of 49.95 including 32 centuries and 62 fifties.
Joe Root contributed with a 122-run knock and shared a 189-run partnership with Harry Brook for the fourth wicket. Brook scored 109 runs from 132 balls including 13 fours. Vaughan likened Brook to former England batter Kevin Pietersen. Former England captain believes Joe Root can break record for most Test runs.
Michael Vaughan praises Joe Root post his century vs WI in 2nd test
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes Joe Root has a realistic chance of going past Sachin Tendulkar’s record tally of 15,921 Test runs. The 49-year-old’s claim comes after Root became the eighth highest run-getter in Tests.
Day 4 of the 2nd Test against the West Indies in Nottingham saw the Yorkshire batter overtake Shivnarine Chanderpaul to become the 8th highest run-getter in the format. With 11,940 runs, the 33-year-old is only 14 shy of leaving behind Brian Lara and is likely to play for at least another three years, giving him a chance to overtake Tendulkar.
Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Vaughan predicted that Joe Root could become England’s highest run-scorer in the next few months. Former opener Alastair Cook is the only Englishman ahead of Joe Root, he occupies fifth place with 12,472 runs.
Vaughan wrote:
“Joe Root will become England’s leading run-scorer in the next few months and is so special that he really could overtake Sachin Tendulkar eventually. With the bat generally they did not look reckless like they have in the past. They are scoring quickly, but it doesn’t look like their egos are taking over. They are just playing with good sense.”
“As the rock, Joe Root is obviously key to that, and I love that he kept the reverse-scoop in the locker until he was past 100 and England’s lead was massive.”
England made two 400+ totals at Trent Bridge, with top-order batters contributing in both innings. Joe Root scored 14 in the first innings and 122 in the second. With a target of 385 on a docile wicket, the hosts bowled the West Indies out for 143.
“There is a bit of Kevin Pietersen there” – Michael Vaughan on Harry Brook
Vaughan also named Harry Brook as the talent to watch out for in the next few years and backed him to keep producing extraordinary innings. He said:
“Then there’s Harry Brook, who is going to provide spectators so many ‘I was there’ moments in the next few years. He will play innings and shots that just make you go ‘wow’. I have seen players with time, but I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone with that much time to play aggressive shots looking very easy. Stillness, trigger, hands high, cocked wrist. There is a bit of Kevin Pietersen there, that ability to play jaw-dropping innings.”
Along with Joe Root, Brook also clattered a ton in the second innings in Nottingham, helping England claim the Richards-Botham Trophy. The 3rd and final Test starts on July 26 in Birmingham.