Joe Root Goes Past Graham Gooch To Become England's Second Highest Run-Getter In Tests

With his 13th run on Day 2 of the Lord’s Test against India, on Friday, England captain Joe Root went past former batsman Graham Gooch’s tally of 8900 Test runs, and now becomes his country’s second-leading run-scorer in Test cricket.

Only Alastair Cook, with 12472 Test runs, is ahead of him. Notably, both Gooch and Cook had a lower average, 42.58 and 45.35 respectively, than Joe Root’s current average which is closing 50. In fact, he has a better average than England’s top 10 leading run-scorer, more than even those who have played fewer matches than he has.

Considering his age, form, and the heavy number of Tests England play, the Yorkshireman is touted to – and in all likelihood, he will – break Cook’s record and become England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer.

Also, not to forget, Joe Root is already England’s all-time leading run-scorer in international cricket – Test, ODI, and T20I combined – with over 15900 runs. He has hit 37 centuries in all – 21 in Tests and 16 in ODIs. Although he has been ousted from the T20I plans, the right-hander remains a crucial member of Eoin Morgan’s ODI eleven.

Joe Root continues his fantastic 2021:

2021 and the start of 2022 are supposed to be perhaps the most vital career of Joe Root’s Test captaincy. England have had success so far, however, it has all been on the back of Joe Root.

He swept and swept his way to 426 runs in 2 Tests on the turning tracks in Sri Lanka leading England to a 2-0 victory, and continued his supreme form in the first Chennai Test against India with another double hundred – in his 100th Test.

However, his own runs dipped – from double hundreds and hundreds – and so did the winning ways of his side. England lost the second Chennai Test and both Tests in Ahmedabad, before losing 1-0 at home in a 2-Test series to New Zealand – their first series loss at home in seven years.

Once again, it was Joe Root, this time in absence of Ben Stokes as well, who carried his side’s batting on his shoulders against India in Nottingham with a fifty and what was perhaps his best home century in the second innings. He has the same job at Lord’s too.

After the India series, the Three Lions are to travel to Australia for an Ashes series as well slated for December-January.

Also Read: Revealed: Why India And England Are Wearing Red Caps On Day 2 Of The Lord’s Test