Ollie Pope, one of the emerging stars of England, has shared high praise for teammate Joe Root following the latter’s remarkable rise to second place in the all-time list of Test run-scorers. After Joe Root surpassed Australia’s Ricky Ponting during his sublime knock against India at Old Trafford on Friday, Pope reflected on the veteran batter’s enduring hunger and hinted that Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record might not be out of reach.
Joe Root who now has 13,409 Test runs to his name is just 2,512 short of Tendulkar’s seemingly untouchable total of 15,921. With an average of 51.17 and a strong run of form, Pope believes that if Root’s body can endure the rigors of Test cricket for a few more years, the England great could very well chase down the Indian maestro’s record.
Ollie Pope was confident that Root’s deep love for the format and the joy he continues to derive from playing for England would fuel that pursuit, saying the former captain always plays with a smile and still carries immense excitement for the longest form of the game.
While Root himself is known to downplay personal achievements, Pope admitted that becoming the second highest scorer in the Test history is no small feat. Although Root might not openly celebrate such landmarks, Pope felt certain that the magnitude of the moment wasn’t lost on him. Root’s quiet acknowledgment of the milestone, however, does not overshadow its significance.
Pope also highlighted the importance of Root’s achievement in the context of the ongoing Test, emphasising that a win for England would make the milestone even more special. Looking ahead to the fourth day of play, Pope revealed the team’s strategy to bat only once and pile on as many runs as possible. With the pitch expected to deteriorate over the next two days, England plans to build a substantial lead and then apply pressure on India with the ball.
In Pope’s words, Root’s combination of passion, composure and unwavering commitment to Test cricket makes him not just a statistical marvel but also an inspiration to his teammates. As Root continues to add to his tally, the cricketing world will be watching closely to see whether Tendulkar’s monumental record remains untouched or finally meets its challenger.
