I think Tendulkar’s record is very achievable – Mark Taylor believes Joe Root can go past Indian legend’s Test tally of runs

Former Australian skipper Mark Taylor believes Joe Root can leapfrog Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of most runs in Test cricket. Root has been the most consistent batter in the red-ball format in the last few years and he completed 10,000 runs in the first Test match against New Zealand at Lord’s.

Root scored a brilliant hundred in the fourth innings to help England chase down 279 runs and win by five wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The talisman scored an unbeaten knock of 115 runs in the second innings for the home side.

Before the series, Root had relinquished his captaincy duties and Ben Stokes is now the new leader of the Test team. Thus, Root played with much more freedom and he was able to bring his best. During his fine knock, Root also completed 10,000 runs in the red-ball version and became only the second England after Alastair Cook to achieve the milestone.

As Root is only 31-years-old, it is expected he still has another six to seven years of cricket left in him. Root is fit as a fiddle and he will look to continue the good show. If Root continues the same form, he also has a chance of going past Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 15921 Test runs, which is the most in Test cricket.

Mark Taylor said while talking to Sky Sports, “Root has minimum five years left in him, so I think Tendulkar’s record is very achievable. Root is batting as well as I have ever seen him bat over the last 18 months to two years. He is in the prime of his career, so there is 15,000 runs-plus for him if he stays healthy.”

On the other hand, former England skipper Nasser Hussain reckons Root still has a lot of runs left in him. Root has scored nine centuries since 2020, which is the most for any batter.

“He has always looked a world-class player. His technique is pretty much what it was, he has straight rhythm and fluency to his game. There is a whole heap of runs left in him.”

“[Getting to 10,000 Test runs] is a special day and one he thoroughly deserves after everything he has been through the last couple of years as England captain – Covid, bubble life and losing Test matches. He must have felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Everything to do with English cricket was knocking at his door.”

The second Test match will take place at Trent Bridge, Nottingham from June 10.