Cricket

Jos Buttler, England's white-ball captain, has expressed uncertainty about the return of Ben Stokes and Joe Root to the team for the upcoming Champions Trophy. While Stokes has indicated a willingness to return if requested by new coach Brendon McCullum, Root's intentions remain unclear.Buttler acknowledged that the decision lies with McCullum, who will assume full-time responsibility for the white-ball side in January. England has a white-ball tour to India in January, which includes three ODIs, before the Champions Trophy begins in February.Buttler emphasized that the team has performed well in the absence of Stokes and Root, with young players stepping up. He also expressed hope that the pair still harbors white-ball aspirations, recognizing their exceptional talent.Root, England's all-time leading ODI run-scorer, has struggled in recent 50-over matches, averaging just 22.94 since July 2021. Stokes, on the other hand, has maintained a solid average of 43.38 in ODIs over the past five years.Buttler believes that the appointment of McCullum as overall head coach will foster greater consistency between the red-ball and white-ball teams. He praised the performance of Saqib Mahmood, who was named Player of the Series against West Indies with nine wickets in four matches.Buttler also reflected on his own return from injury, having missed four months with a calf problem. He opted not to keep wicket in the series against West Indies to gain experience captaining from the field. While he enjoyed the experience, he remains uncertain about whether he will permanently relinquish the gloves.

Former England captain Alastair Cook believes that Joe Root has the potential to become the leading run-scorer in Test cricket history, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Root recently surpassed Cook to become England's leading scorer in Test cricket during the ongoing series against Pakistan in Multan.Cook, who watched Root achieve this milestone, expressed his admiration and congratulated him. "I watched the moment, then I rang him after the end of the play," Cook said. "I couldn't think of the right words to write in a text message. So I thought I'd just ring him, see what he was up to, and make sure he had a beer in his hand, which I think he did."Root's current run tally stands at 12,716, just 3,206 runs shy of Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs. Cook believes that Root has the ability to reach this milestone. "I think Joe Root could set a mark, certainly on an English side, that'll be very hard to beat," Cook said. "But you just never know. I hope he can get very close, if not be the first person who scores 16,000 Test runs. It'd be a great achievement."Before surpassing Tendulkar's record, Root must first overtake six other players: Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs), Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs), Kumar Sangakkara (12,400 runs), Brian Lara (11,953 runs), and Mahela Jayawardene (11,814 runs).Root will continue his pursuit of Tendulkar's record in the third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, beginning on Thursday. If he continues to perform at his current level, he has a good chance of achieving this historic milestone.

Former England captain Alastair Cook believes that New Zealand's Kane Williamson is the only player who can match the exceptional form of Joe Root at present. Root, along with Virat Kohli and Steven Smith, forms the 'Fab Four' of Test cricket. However, Root has consistently outperformed his rivals in recent years.With 12,716 Test runs, Root is just 3,206 runs behind Sachin Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs. Root's remarkable consistency has made him a formidable force in Test cricket.Cook, who played alongside Root for England, is impressed by his friend's unwavering hunger for runs. "I think at this precise moment in time, I find it hard to see anyone playing as well as Joe Root," Cook said. "Over the last year or so of the so-called 'Big Four', I think Williamson and him are probably in the best form at the moment."Williamson, who is also part of the 'Fab Four', has been in excellent form himself. However, a groin strain has ruled him out of the first two Tests of New Zealand's series against India.Cook believes that both Root and Williamson possess a unique combination of talent and determination. "They're all wonderful, wonderful players, all very different, actually, in their methods and ways of playing," Cook said. "But one thing which, kind of unites them is that hunger and desire to keep improving and keep churning out the runs."Root is currently playing in the three-match Test series against Pakistan, while Williamson is expected to return for the third Test against India. The battle between these two exceptional batsmen will be one of the highlights of the upcoming Test matches.

Joe Root's remarkable Test career has reached new heights, with the former England captain surpassing Alastair Cook as his country's leading run-scorer. Cook, who witnessed Root's historic achievement in Multan, Pakistan, expressed his admiration and belief that Root has the potential to become the most prolific run-scorer in Test cricket history, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.Root's current tally of 12,716 runs places him just 3,206 runs behind Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs. While the task may seem daunting, Cook believes that Root's exceptional talent and longevity could make it a reality."I think Joe Root could set a mark, certainly on an English side, that'll be very hard to beat," Cook said. "But you just never know. I hope he can get very close, if not be the first person who scores 16,000 Test runs. It'd be a great achievement."Root's journey to the top has been marked by consistency and brilliance. He has scored over 1,000 runs in a calendar year on seven occasions, including a record-breaking 1,786 runs in 2021. His ability to adapt to different conditions and bowl types has made him one of the most feared batsmen in the world.As Root continues to pile up runs, cricket fans are witnessing a potential shift in the history books. Tendulkar's record has stood for over two decades, but Root's relentless pursuit of excellence could see him break the unbreakable.

England's batting maestro Joe Root has ascended to new heights in the ICC Men's Test Batter Rankings, reaching a career-best rating of 932 points. This remarkable achievement places him among the all-time greats, with only 16 players in Test cricket history surpassing this mark.Root's exceptional knock of 262 in England's emphatic victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Multan propelled him to this milestone. His dominant performance has extended his lead at the top of the rankings by over 100 points, with teammate Harry Brook joining New Zealand's Kane Williamson in second place.Brook's meteoric rise is a testament to his extraordinary triple-century in the same match, where he and Root forged a record-breaking 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket. England's Ben Duckett also made significant progress, moving up five spots to 14th in the rankings after his composed 84 against Pakistan.For Pakistan, Salman Agha and captain Shan Masood made notable gains. Agha jumped 11 places to 22nd, while Masood climbed 12 places to share 51st.On the bowling front, England's Gus Atkinson and Jack Leach benefited from their wicket-taking performances, moving up to 23rd and 28th respectively. Root's versatility was recognized as he ascended to third in the Test all-rounder rankings.The T20I rankings also witnessed significant changes following India's home series against Bangladesh and the opening matches of West Indies' clash with Sri Lanka. West Indies opener Brandon King surged to eighth in the T20I batter rankings, while Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka moved up to 12th.Among T20I bowlers, West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie jumped to second place, trailing only England's Adil Rashid. Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana climbed five spots to reach fifth, while India's Ravi Bishnoi moved up to eighth. Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed made a significant leap, landing at 19th on the T20I bowling list.

Harry Brook's remarkable ascent in Test cricket continues unabated, with the 25-year-old England batter now occupying the coveted second spot in the ICC Test batting rankings. Brook's meteoric rise has been fueled by a jaw-dropping triple century against Pakistan in the first Test in Multan, propelling him eleven places up the ladder.In the process, Brook has leapfrogged Indian batting legend Virat Kohli, who has slipped one spot to seventh in the latest rankings. Brook's stunning performances have solidified his status as one of the most exciting batters in the Test arena. His triple hundred not only dismantled Pakistan's bowling attack to give England a 1-0 lead in the ongoing series but also underlined his potential to become one of the modern greats.Brook's rise has been mirrored by his England teammate Joe Root, who has achieved a new career-high rating of 932 points, further cementing his legacy. Root's remarkable innings of 262 in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan propelled him further ahead at the top of the ICC Test batting rankings. This new rating of 932 points surpasses his previous best of 923 and places him among an elite group of only 16 players in the history of Test cricket to achieve a rating above 932.The all-time best Test batting rankings remain led by Don Bradman, whose 961 points remain unmatched. Others in the top tier include Steve Smith (947), Ricky Ponting (942), and Virat Kohli (937). With his new rating, Root now joins legends such as Mohammad Yousuf (933) and Kumar Sangakkara (938) in this exclusive club.Brook and Root's record-breaking 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket against Pakistan was pivotal in England's emphatic victory, marking one of the most dominant displays in recent Test cricket. Their partnership showcased their exceptional batting skills and highlighted the depth of England's batting lineup.As England continues its tour of Pakistan, all eyes will be on Brook and Root to see if they can maintain their remarkable form. With their talent and determination, they have the potential to lead England to further success and cement their place among the all-time greats of the game.

Joe Root, the 33-year-old Yorkshireman, has etched his name in the annals of English cricket history by surpassing Alastair Cook's record tally of 12,472 runs during the first Test match against Pakistan. Root's remarkable innings of 262 runs propelled him past Cook's previous milestone, solidifying his status as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation.Cook, who recently retired from international cricket, was inducted into the ICC's Hall of Fame and hailed Root's exceptional talent. According to Cook, Root is a "generational talent" who has the potential to become the first batter in history to amass 16,000 Test runs.Currently, Root occupies the fifth position on the all-time list of run-scorers, trailing behind retired legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the top spot with 15,921 runs, followed by Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid. As Root continues to showcase his remarkable skills and consistency on the cricket field, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates his future achievements and the possibility of him etching his name in the record books as the most prolific run-scorer in Test cricket history."I think Joe Root could set a mark, certainly on the English side, which will be very hard to beat," said Cook, who retired from Test cricket in 2018 with a century in his final innings. "But you just never know. I hope he can get very close, if not be the first person to score 16,000 Test runs. It would be a great achievement but it's a fair way off yet."Cook also expressed his thoughts on the longevity of cricket records in the modern era. At 39 years old, he acknowledged the rapid evolution of the sport, particularly with the increasing popularity of limited-overs formats vying for space in the cricketing calendar alongside the traditional Test matches."Everyone looked to that Tendulkar record of 200 Test matches and I think quite a few people said, 'Well, that's never going to be done'." "And you've got a fast bowler who has played 188 Test matches and taken more than 700 wickets (retired England quick James Anderson)." "So I know the game is changing, the landscape is changing. But something always crops up, someone always does."

James Anderson, the legendary English bowler, has heaped praise on young batsman Harry Brook, comparing him to the likes of Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen. Anderson believes that Brook has the potential to surpass both Root and Pietersen as England's greatest Test batsman.Brook made history in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, becoming the first English batter in 34 years to score a triple century. His 308-run knock was instrumental in England's innings and 47-run victory.Anderson, who retired from Test cricket in July after taking 704 wickets in 188 matches, was impressed by Brook's all-round ability. "He's on the way to being in the top three that I've played with," Anderson said on the Tailenders podcast. "It's Root, Pietersen and him. He's definitely got all the attributes to overtake them."Anderson believes that Brook possesses the perfect blend of Root's technique and temperament with Pietersen's attacking instincts. "He's got the shots of both Root and Pietersen. He can destroy an attack if he wants to, he can play a longer innings if he needs to," Anderson added.Anderson also highlighted Brook's love for batting, which he believes is similar to Root's. "They literally couldn't care less what format it is. They just want to bat," Anderson said. "As much as Brook's the younger player and will be learning loads from Rooty, I still think Rooty learns from him as well."If Brook continues to perform at his current level, he has the potential to become one of the greatest English batsmen of all time. Anderson's praise is a testament to the young batsman's talent and potential.

Joe Root, the English batting maestro, continues to dominate the Test arena, etching his name among the all-time greats. With his 35th Test century in Multan against Pakistan, Root has extended his lead as the active batter with the most Test runs.Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Root has the potential to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 15,291 Test runs. However, Vaughan emphasizes that Root must maintain his longevity in the game."Joe's love of the game means he will not be like Alastair Cook. Cook retired six years ago, at almost exactly the same age - 33 - that Joe is now. But I see Joe going into his forties, like Anderson has," Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph.Root's current tally of 12,500 Test runs places him just over 3,000 runs behind Tendulkar. The 33-year-old has played 147 Tests, while Tendulkar played 200 during his illustrious career.2024 has been a remarkable year for Root, who has amassed runs against India, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and now Pakistan. He became the first batter to cross 1,000 Test runs in 2024.Vaughan heaped praise on Root, stating, "Root is already cricketing royalty and there is no doubt in my eyes that he has become England's greatest batsman already. No one has played the different forms of the game better than him, and he has got the runs to show for it."Root also trails Tendulkar in another elite list. He has crossed 1,000 Test runs in five separate calendar years, while only Tendulkar has achieved this feat in six calendar years.Root's unwavering determination and exceptional batting skills make him a formidable force in Test cricket. If he continues to play at his current level and maintain his longevity, he has the potential to break Tendulkar's record and become the leading Test run-scorer of all time.