Joe Root breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become highest 4th innings run-scorer in Test hory | Cricket News
England batter Joe Root surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for most runs in Test run chases during his team’s eight-wicket win against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval in Chrchurch on Sunday.
Root surpassed Tendulkar’s tally of 1625 runs in the fourth innings as he remained unbeaten on 23 off 15 deliveries, with England chasing down a 104-run target in only 12.2 overs – the fastest 100-plus run chase in Test hory.
Playing in his 150th Test, Root also leapfrogged compatriot Alastair Cook (1611), Graeme Smith (1611) before surpassing Tendulkar. Root went past Tendulkar’s aggregate in 11 fewer innings, taking his overall fourth innings tally to 1630 in 49 innings with a 40-plus average, two centuries and eight fifties.
However, only 620 of Root’s runs have resulted in England wins, with 715 being the corresponding figure for Tendulkar. Only former South African captain Smith has recorded over 1000 fourth-innings runs in victories.
Only 3,144 runs separate Root (12,777) from Tendulkar (15,921) on the Test run-scoring charts with the Yorkshireman having played only 55 innings less than the Indian batting maestro.
Earlier, Root fell for a four-ball duck in the first innings to Kiwi debutant Nathan Smith, making him only the third batter after Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting to fall for nought in their 150th Test match.
Most 4th innings runs in Test cricket:
1630* – Joe Root (49 innings)1625 – Sachin Tendulkar (60)1611 – Graeme Smith (41)1611 – Alastair Cook (53)1587 – Shivnarine Chanderpaul (49)1552 – Rahul Dravid (56)
