England's standout figure, Root, justifies his inclusion in the 'Greatest of All Time' debate amidst global opposition
In the world of cricket, England's Joe Root is making a name for himself as he approaches the illustrious record held by Sachin Tendulkar for the most Test runs in the history of the game.
As of mid-2025, Root was approximately 2,512 runs behind Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs, a gap that is predicted to close in the coming years. With England's relatively packed Test schedule through 2026 and 2027, Root is expected to have ample opportunities to accumulate runs and break the record.
Root's performance has been exceptional wherever he goes, except for Australia. Despite this, the English batsman is predicted to surpass Tendulkar's record in the 2027-28 winter, assuming he maintains a similar rate of scoring and continues playing through that period. By the end of the 2026/27 winter, Root is expected to still be about 1,000 runs short of Tendulkar's record, but with an Ashes series and other matches in 2027, he is likely to overtake Tendulkar then.
The debate about Root's greatness often centers around Don Bradman, considered by many to be the greatest of all time. Root's peak is comparatively low, edging just above 60, while Bradman's Test average of 99.94 remains unmatched. Only Steve Smith, with a Bradman measure of 78.68, has come as close as Smith to Bradman's record.
Root's consistency is evident in his statistics. Across 80 innings, he made 6,996 runs, averaging 56.14. Between his 42nd and 121st innings, Root averaged 78.68. However, he has yet to make a Test hundred in Australia, a gap in his record that could look Australia-sized if he experiences a tail-off.
Almost every batter in the 10,000 Test run club has suffered some kind of end-of-career slump. Root needs to both extend his late peak and avoid an end-of-days slump to ensure he remains among the very greatest. A tail-off could affect how Root is perceived in every metric, potentially causing his average to dip below 50, making South Africa a country in which he's averaged less than 50, and making Bangladesh another place he has struggled.
Root averages more than 45 in India, more than 50 in six countries, and above 40 in another two. This consistency, coupled with his predicted rise to Tendulkar's record, positions Root as the likely final player to break Tendulkar's record in the near future.
While Root's record may not match that of Don Bradman, his consistency and potential to break Tendulkar's record make him a contender for greatness in the world of cricket.
Sports analysis indicates that Joe Root, the English cricketer, is on a trajectory to break Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most Test runs in sports-analysis terminology, this is often referred to as 'the 10,000 Test run club.' As Root is projected to surpass Tendulkar in the 2027-28 winter, his overall consistency across various international tours solidifies his position in the sports-analysis discourse as a likely final player to achieve this feat.
