Ben Stokes shows class with touching message to Joe Root after England star breaks Test run record
Joe Root is now England's leading Test run-scorer
REUTERS
Ben Stokes has led the tributes to Joe Root after the 33-year-old overtook Sir Alastair Cook to become England's record Test run-scorer.
Root moved past Cook's incredible haul of 12,472 runs during day three of the first Test against Pakistan.
He achieved the feat by hitting Aamer Jamal for four to reach 72 not out with England chasing down Pakistan's target score.
It also moves Root up to fifth on the all-time list of highest run-scorers in Test cricket.
Joe Root is now England's leading Test run-scorer
REUTERS
Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Ricky Ponting (13,378), Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Rahul Dravid (13,288) are the only men above him on the list.
Root's England record is unlikely to be beaten any time soon either with Stokes his nearest competitor on just over 6,500 runs.
Stokes took over as England men's Test captain from Root in April 2022 and was full of praise for his team-mate's achievement.
“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 got so 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.”
Ben Stokes praised Joe Root for his achievement
REUTERS
Root also passed Cook's record of 33 Test centuries for England earlier this summer against Sri Lanka.
The former England captain managed to reach his tally 12,472 in fewer matches and innings as well.
Cook needed 161 Test and 291 innings while Root needed only 147 Tests and 268 innings.
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Joe Root has overtaken Sir Alastair Cook's haul
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Root went on to notch up his 35th Test century against Pakistan, moving him up to sixth on the all-time list.
He's just one century behind India cricket icon Dravid with Kumar Sangakkara just ahead on 38.