'Joe Root will not be like Alastair Cook': Michael Vaughan backs batter to break Sachin Tendulkar's record

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that ace batter Joe Root can break 'Master Blaster' Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record for most runs in Tests. Michael Vaughan also said that Joe Root can play cricket into his 40s, unlike Alastair Cook, who retired from international cricket at the age of 33.

Joe Root scripted history by becoming England's all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket on the third day of the opening Test against Pakistan. He surpassed Alastair Cook's record before the lunch break on Day 3. Root achieved the milestone after scoring 72 runs in England's first innings of the match.

Alastair Cook scored 12,472 runs in 161 Tests, including 33 centuries. Root surpassed Cook's tally in his 147th Test. No other England player has surpassed 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Overall, Root is fifth on the all-time list of Test run-scorers, behind Sachin, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid.

Joe Root Will Not Be Like Alastair Cook - Michael Vaughan

In a column for the Telegraph after Root surpassed Cook, Michael Vaughan said that Root won't retire from international cricket in the near future. Vaughan pointed out that Root is yet to score a century in Australia, but he does not see any major technical problem in his batting.

“Joe’s love of the game means he will not be like Alastair Cook, who he overtakes into top spot. Cook retired six years ago, at almost exactly the same age – 33 – that Joe is now,” Vaughan wrote.

"But I see Joe going into his forties, like Anderson has. There is still plenty for him to tick off, including that missing hundred in Australia. But I watch him bat in Australia and do not see a major technical problem, he just has not cracked three figures yet,” he added.

Joe Root is eyeing breaking Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of most Test runs. Sachin scored 15,921 runs in 200 Tests, including 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries. Ricky Ponting (13,378), Jacques Kallis (13,289), and Rahul Dravid (13,288) are among the batters in the top four leading run-getters in Tests.

Has Become England’s Greatest Batsman Already - Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan said that Joe Root will break Sachin Tendulkar's record if he maintains his form. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Root is England's greatest batter with his exceptional performance across the formats, adding that he is the greatest role model for young cricketers.

“Root is already cricketing royalty and there is no doubt in my eyes that he has become England’s greatest batsman already. No one has played the different forms of the game better than him, and he has got the runs to show for it,” stated Vaughan further.

"If he plays as long as I am sure he will, he will overtake Sachin Tendulkar and be the leading Test run-scorer. More than just being a great player, he does it all with a smile on his face, and is simply the greatest example for young kids to follow."

The 33-year-old batter has been the highest run-scorer in Test cricket since 2021. The right-handed batter has scored over 4,700 runs in 91 innings at an average of over 57, including 18 centuries and 15 fifties.

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