Root on trail of Tendulkar after leaving legends behind

Batter beats Ponting for Test runs as England take large lead

- By RICHARD JOLLY AT EMIRATES OLD TRAFFORD

On Tuesday, Ben Stokes felt the briefest of tributes to Joe Root was the most eloquent. “Sometimes less is more,” he argued. “I don’t need to say anything else except he’s just the absolute GOAT.” Three days later, Stokes was at the other end as Root put himself second in the all-time standings for Test match runs to the man many an Indian would describe as the greatest of all time, Sachin Tendulkar.

Root leapfrogged three legends yesterday, leaving Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting behind him. He already had a status as England’s finest ever Test batter - certainly their best in the last half-century - and now only one person in the history of the game has made more runs in this format.

Chasing down Tendulkar, still 2,512 ahead of him, will be no simple feat. Yet, England vice-captain Ollie Pope argued, it is not impossible. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he can chase him down,” he said. “I am sure if his body allows he will have the hunger.” Root has given himself a chance.

He has given England an opportunity to clinch the series against India, too, putting them in a commanding position, a score of 544-7 giving them a lead of 186. But one run among them brought a standing ovation: when he passed Ponting. This was a seismic achievement from a player with a habit of making history. “He is not a big one for landmarks but I think that is a pretty cool one,” added Pope.