While Manchester witnessed Joe Root go past two iconic names in Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis one after the other, the absolute pinnacle is not beyond his reach, as per Michael Atherton.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former captain and now pundit journalist Michael Atherton, said, Tendulkar’s mark for most Test runs is gettable. That number stands at 15,921.
“Root averages about 85 runs a Test match, so he’d likely need 30 Test matches to get up to Sachin (Tendulkar to claim the Test record),” Atherton was quoted as saying by Sky.
Ricky Ponting with 13,378 remains ahead of him as the first Australian wall to breach. But Cook who had gone well past Alastair Cook’s 12,472 runs as England’s top run getter in Tests also centered past two big names back to back on Friday, to sit at No 3 on therun mountain.
He overhauled Rahul Dravid’s 13,288 and then after one single was level with Jacques Kallis’ 13,289. Two Sri Lankans, Kumar Sangakarra and Mahela Jayawardene and two West Indians, Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are in the Top 10 – at 11,814.
Virat Kohli retired with 9230, and Steve Smith is on 10,477. Kane Williamson is on 9276. But Root has aced the Fab Four Test test, and looks most likely to aim at Tendulkar.
Atherton reckoned the Tendulkar Everest was reachable, but pointed out how it hinged on slew of things. “You never know what lies ahead in terms of freak injuries, sport can be a cruel mistress, but given a fair wind he should be up to Tendulkar in around two and a half years,” he told Sky.
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“Given how he’s playing right now – the best he’s ever played – and given there’s no diminishing of his love and desire for the game, the numbers will take care of themselves,” Atherton added.
Earlier, it was in over 57 when England were 259-2 (Pope 31, Root 30) and trailing by 99 that he reached Dravid guiding Bumrah through deep third for a single. The ball before that, Root had punched Bumrah through the covers for another boundary, as per Sky.
Root has 104 scores of 50+, second only to Tendulkar’s 119.
