Sachin Tendulkar’s record: Joe Root has Little Master in his sights

Root is 34, not 35 until December. Yes, he is already a year older than Alastair Cook when England’s previous best run-getter called it quits in 2018, but Root is showing no signs of slowing down.

England’s schedule is mapped out until the end of the home summer in 2027, when Root would be 36 – still a perfectly passable age for a Test batter.

Between now and then, they have one more Test this summer against India. There are five this winter in Australia, then three each against New Zealand and Pakistan at home next year. The winter of 2026-27 is three in South Africa, two in Bangladesh and a special 150th anniversary match against the Aussies in Melbourne.

The following home summer comprises six Tests, including an Ashes series. England could also reach the World Test Championship final. That makes a possible 25 in the next two years.

For the purpose of these calculations, we’ll use Root’s average runs per match, rather than runs per dismissal.

Across his 13-year, 157-Test career, Root is averaging 85.4 runs per match. At that rate, he would need 30 more Tests to get to Tendulkar. Deliciously, that would probably come in early 2028, on a tour of India.

But Root’s output is improving. Since the beginning of 2021, he has averaged 93 runs per Test across 60 matches.

And this is the kicker. Remember the reverse-scoop to Jasprit Bumrah in the third Test in India last year? The one that caused pelters to rain down from all angles? Since then, Root is averaging 101 runs in 19 matches.

If he goes at that rate for the next two years, Root would be bang on course to pass Tendulkar in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval in 2027. Just imagine a Root record and a 5-0 Ashes clean sweep. They would have to declare bank holiday week. Arise, Sir Joseph.