Can Joe Root still break Sachin Tendulkar's Test record?

Joe Root is edging closer to Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most Test runs ever, but a recent series against Pakistan may have presented a missed chance. Currently, Root has amassed 14,216 Test runs across 169 matches and 308 innings, falling short of Tendulkar's 15,921 runs from 200 Tests and 329 innings by 1,705 runs. To overtake Tendulkar, Root would need to score an additional 1,706 runs.

The upcoming Pakistan series, which saw England win by a substantial margin, may not have provided the ideal scenario for Root to gather more runs. Root's batting performances in the series were lackluster, with scores of 66, 4 and 24, and a disappointing dismissal of 8 from 18 balls. Pakistan struggled to score, finishing Day 2 at just 52 for two, requiring a meager 268 runs to take the initiative in England's batting.

Root's batting form has been inconsistent, with only two half-centuries during the home summer and repeated lbw dismissals contributing to concerns. Captaincy duties, added to his workload, could potentially aid Root's pursuit of the record. Former West Indies great Viv Richards suggested that Root's return as England's Test captain might help him achieve Tendulkar's feat.

England faces Pakistan in three Tests, starting in Johannesburg on December 17, followed by matches in Centurion and Cape Town, and concludes with an Ashes series in Australia during the summer. This gives Root an additional 10 scheduled Tests to close the run gap. Despite being 35 years old, Root still has the capability to achieve the record, as he has already surpassed 14,000 Test runs.