"I hope he can get very close, if not be the first person who scores 16,000 Test runs"- Alastair Cook on Joe Root surpassing Sachin Tendulkar in Tests
Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook wished ace batter Joe Root could surpass Sachin Tendulkar's record for most runs and possibly scale the 16,000-run mark. Root recently overtook Cook in the Test run-scoring chart during his double century in the first Test of the ongoing Pakistan series.
The 33-year-old is already fifth on the all-time Test-scoring list with 12,716 runs in 148 matches. Meanwhile, Tendulkar holds the top spot with 15,921 runs in his staggering 200-Test career.
Speaking to the ICC after his induction to the Hall of Fame, Cook weighed in on Root's chances to surpass Tendulkar and said:
"I think Joe Root could set a mark, certainly on an English side, that’ll be very hard to beat. But you just never know. I hope he can get very close, if not be the first person who scores 16,000 Test runs. It'd be a great achievement."
Cook also mentioned talking to Root after he surpassed Cook's runs tally in Tests.
"I watched the moment, then I rang him after the end of the play. I couldn't think of the right words to write in a text message. So I thought I’d just ring him, see what he was up to, and make sure he had a beer in his hand, which I think he did," added Cook.
Root will be in action next when England take on Pakistan in the series decider at Rawalpindi, starting Thursday, October 24.
"Over the last year or so, of the so-called ‘Big Four’, I think Williamson and him are probably in the best form at the moment" - Sir Alastair Cook
Sir Alastair Cook said Joe Root and Kane Williamson are the best among the 'Fab Four' also comprising Virat Kohli and Steve Smith.
While Root is the leading run-scorer in Tests this year with 1,300 at an average of almost 62, Williamson is ninth with 618 runs at an average of 56.18.
"I think at this precise moment in time, I find it hard to see anyone playing as well as Joe Root. Over the last year or so, of the so-called ‘Big Four’, I think Williamson and him are probably in the best form at the moment. They're all wonderful, wonderful players, all very different, actually, in their methods and ways of playing. But one thing which kind of unites them is that hunger and desire to keep improving and keep churning out the runs," Cook said in the same interaction.
Kohli has struggled for form in Tests this year, averaging only 32.42 in four outings. Meanwhile, Smith has fared a tad better at an average of 41.92 in eight Tests.