Joe Root responded modestly after reaching over 14,000 Test runs during the second Test match against New Zealand at the Oval. Filling in as interim captain for Ben Stokes, he faced a 253-run defeat in the match.
Although he lost in his return to captaincy, Root achieved a personal milestone, becoming only the second player ever to score 14,000 runs in Test Cricket. In his usual fashion, the 35-year-old minimized the significance of the achievement, suggesting that these runs are not solely his, but contribute to the team’s success.
The middle-order batter expressed gratitude for the warm reception he received from the crowd at the Oval after scoring just two runs in the second innings. He humorously linked it to Jack Leach’s single run off 17 balls during the 2019 Ashes Test at Headingley, where Stokes led England to a remarkable win.
“I saw a quote from Kane [Williamson] not long ago; they’re never really your runs, and it struck a chord with me. You’re aiming to win games, putting yourself in a position to succeed. That’s my focus – what do we need to achieve in each situation? I was truly humbled by the crowd’s response. Apart from Leachy’s performance at Headingley, I’ve never seen so few runs celebrated so much. I’m very grateful for that,” Joe Root shared at the press conference.
Root is on track to surpass the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to become the top run-scorer in Test cricket. He is currently 1,846 runs away from the Indian great, who retired from International play in 2013.