Joe Root breaks Alistair Cook and Younis Khan's record, becomes England’s leading test run-scorer

Joe Root, not out, overtakes Alastair Cook as England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer.

Joe Root has made history by becoming the leading run-scorer for England in Test cricket during the first Test match against Pakistan. In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Root surpassed Alastair Cook's long-standing record, achieving a total of 12546 runs after scoring an impressive unbeaten century.

Root’s milestone came on Wednesday, solidifying his status as England's "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) in red-ball cricket.

With this achievement, he has now become the fifth-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket, joining the ranks of legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid.

England’s Top Run-Scorers in Test Cricket:

1. Joe Root – 12,473 runs
2. Alastair Cook – 12,472 runs
3. Graham Gooch – 8,900 runs
4. Alec Stewart – 8,463 runs
5. David Gower – 8,231 runs
6. Kevin Pietersen – 8,181 runs

Most runs in Test cricket history:

1. Sachin Tendulkar – 15921
2. Ricky Ponting – 13378
3. Jack Kallis – 13289
4. Rahul Dravid – 13288
5. Joe Root – 12500

In addition to this record, the 33-year-old batter has also surpassed Younis Khan, Brian Lara, and Mahela Jayawardene as the sixth player with the most centuries in Test cricket. With 35 centuries to his name, Root is just three centuries away from surpassing Kumar Sangakkara and Rahul Dravid, potentially making him the fourth-highest century-maker in the format.

Most Centuries in Test Cricket:

1. Sachin Tendulkar – 51 centuries
2. Jacques Kallis – 45 centuries
3. Ricky Ponting – 41 centuries
4. Kumar Sangakkara – 38 centuries
5. Rahul Dravid – 36 centuries
6. Joe Root – 35 centuries
7. Younis Khan – 34 centuries

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first in this Test match, posting an impressive 556-run total in their first innings, setting a formidable challenge for the visiting England side.

On the other hand, the Three Lions are showcasing their aggressive batting approach, amassing over 300 runs for the loss of just three wickets with Joe Root and Harry Brook contributing crucial runs to their total.