Joe Root yesterday broke Alastair Cook’s Test runs record on the third day of the opening Test against Pakistan in Multan, as he helped guide England to 232-2 at lunch.
The 33-year-old became England’s highest run scorer in Tests, and the fifth-highest of all time, when he drove Pakistan seamer Aamer Jamal for a straight boundary to reach 71.
At the interval, Root was unbeaten on 72 having faced 118 deliveries while Ben Duckett was on a rapid 80 off just 67 balls.
Photo: AFP
Left-hander Duckett was showing no ill-effects from the thumb he dislocated in taking a catch on Tuesday that had forced him to come in at No. 4 instead of opening the batting.
England, who rattled along and scored 136 off 25 overs in the session for just the loss of Zak Crawley, who made 78, trailed by 324 with eight wickets in hand after Pakistan made 556 in their first innings.
It was a day to remember for Root, who took 268 innings and 147 Tests to go past his former captain Cook’s total of 12,472 runs from 161 Tests in a glorious career that ended in 2018.
Root also added 109 for the second wicket with Crawley, who hit 13 fours in an 85-ball stay, but departed early on the third morning.
Duckett started with trademark aggression, taking five boundaries off spinner Abrar Ahmed and completing his 10th Test half-century off just 45 balls.
That enabled Root to accumulate steadily at the other end as he brought up his 65th Test half-century off 76 balls before a handful of England fans and teammates applauded him in the dressing room after he broke Cook’s record.
Root, who made his Test debut in 2012, went to the lunch interval with the new record standing at 12,474 runs and counting.
The all-time list is headed by India’s Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921 from 200 matches.
Meanwhile, England fast bowler Olly Stone left Pakistan early yesterday, racing home for his wedding at the weekend, management said.
The 31-year-old was not included in the side in Multan, and with his wedding due on Saturday is doubtful for the second match at the same venue three days later.
Stone last month said the date was finalized long before he was recalled to the Test team against Sri Lanka in August.
“It’s a bit manic, but a nice problem to have,” Stone told BBC Sport of his 6,500km dash to the altar.
Stone took seven wickets in the two Tests he played against Sri Lanka, with England winning the three-match series 2-1.
“We booked the wedding on the basis of me only playing for Notts at the time,” he said. “In the past I’ve always looked at future series and not done stuff. Then you get injured, or not selected, and you think you should have just done what you wanted to do.”
Root said he rearranged his own wedding three times because of tours with England.
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