Ricky Ponting, the former Australian cricket captain, has expressed strong belief that England's Joe Root is in a prime position to break Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record for the most runs in Test cricket. Tendulkar, who amassed 15,921 runs over 200 matches, set a benchmark that has endured since his retirement over a decade ago.
Despite speculation surrounding other players, such as Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson, Ponting argues that their recent performances in Test cricket have been less consistent. In contrast, Joe Root’s position as both a leading batsman and former England captain makes him a standout candidate. The structure of England’s cricketing calendar also plays a role, as they typically participate in more Test matches each year compared to teams like India, New Zealand, and Australia.
During a recent match against the West Indies at Edgbaston, Root joined an elite group by surpassing 12,000 Test runs, bringing his total to 12,027 runs from 143 matches, with a commendable average of 50.11. This puts him in seventh place on the all-time list, with only Kumar Sangakkara and Alastair Cook ahead of him among active players.
Ponting, reflecting on Root's trajectory, noted that at 33 years old and approximately 3,000 runs shy of Tendulkar's record, if he maintains a consistent performance between 800 and 1,000 runs per year over the next three to four years, he could achieve this milestone by around the age of 37.
One significant aspect of Root's recent success is his ability to convert half-centuries into centuries, a facet of his game that Ponting highlighted as crucial. He remarked that Root has made considerable improvements in this area, regularly turning 50s into big scores, which has been pivotal for his performance in recent years.
Overall, Ponting’s insights suggest that if Joe Root continues to exhibit the same hunger for runs and maintains his current level of performance, he stands a strong chance of making history by surpassing one of cricket's most revered records.