The English middle-order batsman Joe Root, Sunday, completed 10,000 Test runs. Root has become the second Englishman to get past the 10,000-run mark in Tests after Alastair Cook (12,474). The former English captain registered his 26th Test century and became only the 14th batter to surpass 10,000 runs. The list includes the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Cook, Kumar Sangakkara, Brian Lara, S Chanderpaul. Mahela Jayawardene, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Sunil Gavaskar, and Younis Khan.
At home, Joe Root has scored 5,135 runs at 52.93. He has 15 tons and 25 fifties while playing at home. He has six Test centuries against India at home (highest). Root has amassed 4,593 runs at 45.93 on foreign soil. He has scored 11 Test tons and 25 fifties away from home.
I love batting and I want to keep trying to bat for as long as I can: Joe Root
After achieving the milestone, Joe said, “It feels fantastic. [But] for us to have won this Test match after such a long time is the greatest feeling of all of it. It has been a tough road but hopefully, we can use this as a step forward as a group.” He continued, “You look at the number of times Ben has won us games under my captaincy and it is a great opportunity for me to give back to him in that respect. It’s a great motivator. I will never be Ben Stokes, never be able to do the things he has done, but I will try to do it my own way.”
“I love batting and I want to keep trying to bat for as long as I can, score as many runs as I can, and help us win as many Test matches as I can. As long as I have the energy and drive, I will keep doing it. I love the group of players and I couldn’t wish for a better person to be leading this team than Ben. I will do everything I can to help him win games and see us become a successful Test team again,” Joe added.
England has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It also broke England’s nine-match losing streak in Tests, as the Stokes-McCullum duo got off to a flying start, even if it was more of a saunter for Root.