England’s Joe Root inched closer to matching one of cricket’s most prestigious records, as his unbeaten 32 helped steady the ship on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan in Karachi. The 33-year-old batsman, who has been in remarkable form in 2024, is now just one calendar year away from matching Sachin Tendulkar’s record of scoring over 1,000 runs in the most calendar years in Test cricket.
Root’s composed knock came after England lost stand-in skipper Ollie Pope early to Naseem Shah in their first innings. While exercising caution, Root displayed his typical resolve, rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard ticking with two boundaries. His presence at the crease ensured England did not lose further wickets, ending the day unbeaten on 32 from 54 balls, as England closed on 96/1.
The day’s play came after Pakistan’s mammoth 556-run total, built on centuries from Salman Ali Agha (104*), Abdullah Shafique (102), and captain Shan Masood (151). Pakistan’s batting prowess had put England on the back foot early, but Root’s steadying hand ensured England remained competitive in the face of a daunting chase.
Root’s unbeaten innings saw him cross the 1,000-run mark in Test cricket for the fifth calendar year, matching the records of cricketing legends such as Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis. Root’s consistent run-scoring over the past few years has positioned him to potentially equal Tendulkar’s incredible tally of six calendar years where he scored 1,000 or more Test runs.
With five such years to his name, Root now sits among the all-time greats in this regard, and should he achieve another 1,000 runs in the current calendar year, he will join Tendulkar at the top of the leaderboard.
While Root held the fort, England’s aggressive opener Zak Crawley provided the fireworks. Crawley’s blistering 64* from just 64 balls forced Pakistan’s bowlers to toil hard for breakthroughs. His rollicking innings included 11 boundaries and formed a crucial 92-run partnership with Root. The two added 92 runs in just 112 balls, as England slowly started to chip away at Pakistan’s imposing total.
At stumps, England trailed by 460 runs, but with Crawley in full flow and Root’s unflinching consistency, there remains plenty of hope for the visitors. The result of this Test will depend heavily on whether England can sustain their attacking approach while keeping wickets intact in their bid to chase down Pakistan’s colossal score.
As the series progresses, all eyes will remain on Root, whose remarkable run of form in 2024 has not only been vital for England but could see him achieve an extraordinary feat in Test cricket by equaling one of Sachin Tendulkar’s most revered records.
