Joe Root became the joint-youngest player to reach the 10000-run mark in Test cricket when he hit a match-winning century in the first Test of a three-match series against New Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday. The veteran batter was also the first batter in the history of the sport to get to the milestone in the first 10 years of his international career as well. With Joe Root showing a consistent run even when England has struggled in the longer format, former Australia captain Mark Taylor has backed him to break batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in the longer format as well.

However, Sachin Tendulkar has finished his Test career with a whopping 15,921 runs in 200 matches and no active international player apart from Joe Root has 10,000 runs in Tests so far as well. Mark Taylor has also said that Joe Root is at the peak of his career and with at least 5-6 more years left as well, where Tendulkar’s record can be achieved too.

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“Root has minimum five years left in him, so I think Tendulkar’s record is very achievable,” Taylor told Sky Sports. “Root is batting as well as I have ever seen him bat over the last 18 months to two years.”

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However, with just 61 runs required on Day 4 morning, Joe Root held his calm and completed his 100 to help his side win convincingly as well. “Ben has won many Tests for us when I was captain, it’s a great chance for me to give it back to him. so I just want to keep batting as long as I can, win as many games for my side. As long as I have got the energy and drive to do it, i will do it,” Joe Root said after his match-winning knock on Sunday.