With an exquisite straight drive for four, Joe Root took another of Alastair Cook’s records by becoming England’s highest run-scorer in Tests.

Root surpassed the retired Cook’s total of 12,472 runs by reaching 71 during England’s first innings on Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Root moved to fifth place on the all-time list of Test run-scorers, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Ricky Ponting (13,378), Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Rahul Dravid (13,288). All four above Root are retired and within reach of a batter who said ahead of the tour to Pakistan: “I see myself playing Test cricket for a lot longer.”

“There are other geniuses who can play genius innings. But Root is a genius with consistency,” said Cook, who was commentating on the match for BBC radio when his record was taken by Root.

Root, who is technically excellent and owns pretty much all the shots, overtook Cook’s record of 33 Test centuries by an England batter last month when he made hundreds in both innings against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. On Wednesday, he went on to reach his 35th Test hundred — first in Pakistan — and lies sixth on the all-time list of century-makers.

“I’ve never seen thathunger, determination or relentlessness in anyone’s batting really,” Cook saidof Root. “He does that inan elegant way.”

Ben Stokes, the England Test captain who is sitting out this first match because of injury, praised Root’s character and achievement in a video released by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“The selflessness that he has is an incredible attribute for him,” Stokes said. “He always puts the team first, and the fact that he’s gotso many runs is just a bonus for us. He’s an incredible player. It’s going to take a long, long time for someone to come in and break that record. Just a great bloke. And an unbelievable feat to score that many runs.

“But the non-selfishness that he possesses is one thing I think sets him above or sets him apart from anybody else who is going to play for England for a long time.”

Root waved to his teammates soon after reaching the milestone before he raised his bat in acknowledgement. He shook hands with Stokes and bowling mentor James Anderson as he walked off the field at lunch break, shortly after moving above Cook’s total of Test runs.

Root is playing in his 147th Test and came into the Pakistan series averaging more than 50, whereas Cook made 161 Test appearances and batted in 291 innings, averaging 45.35. He has more runs against India than any other opposition — 2,846 in 30 Tests.

The most prolific year of Root’s Test career was in 2021, when he scored 1,708 runs. He has passed 1,000 runs in a year five times.

Root’s next big target is displacing Tendulkar atop the all-time list and, injury permitting, he has a good chance of doing so.

“You could say Sachin is still the favourite, but just,” Cook said.

AP