Joe Root poised to surpass key records as England takes on Pakistan upcoming Test series

Root eyes Cook's run record and more as he leads England into a thrilling Test series against Pakistan.

England’s cricketing stalwart Joe Root is set to take the field in an eagerly anticipated three-match Test series against Pakistan, starting on October 7 in Multan.

The 33-year-old batter has been in scintillating form, impressing in recent Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Root, already one of England’s greatest-ever cricketers, is on the cusp of several major milestones during this series. With 12,402 runs in 146 Test matches, he is just 71 runs shy of surpassing Alastair Cook’s record of 12,472 runs, the highest by any England player in Test history. Achieving this would also place Root fifth on the all-time list of Test run-scorers.

In addition to this national accolade, Root is also poised to make history in the World Test Championship (WTC). With 4,973 runs in the tournament’s history, he needs just 27 more to become the first player to cross the 5,000-run mark in WTC history.

Root's contributions extend beyond his batting. As a fielder, he has secured 201 catches in Test cricket, making him third on the all-time list. Ten more catches during this series would see him overtake India’s Rahul Dravid as the most successful fielder in Test history.

Moreover, Root is closing in on another WTC milestone. With 1,398 runs in the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle, he needs just 102 runs against Pakistan to become the first player to score at least 1,500 runs in all three editions of the WTC.

With these records in sight, the upcoming Test series offers Root an opportunity to further cement his legacy in the game and contribute to England's success on Pakistan soil.