Ricky Ponting backs THIS batter to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record

Legendary Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed English batter Joe Root to break the batting records of Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar holds the record for scoring the most runs in Test cricket — 15,921 from a record 200 matches, followed by Ponting, who scored 13378 runs in 168 games.

Meanwhile, Root is currently the seventh among the highest run-scorers in Test cricket with 12027 runs from 143 matches.

Ponting has predicted that the 33-year-old English batter will be the one to break Tendulkar’s record in Test cricket.

“He (Root) could potentially do that,” Ricky Ponting said in the ICC review. “He is 33 years of age…(more than) 3000 runs behind.”

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The former Australian captain highlighted that if Joe Root participates in 10 to 14 Test matches every year and maintains his current level of performance, he could potentially surpass Sachin Tendulkar within the next four years, achieving this feat at the age of 37.

“It depends on how many Test matches they play, but if they’re playing 10 to 14 Test matches a year, and if you’re scoring 800 to 1,000 runs a year, then that sort of says he’s only three or four years off getting there. So that’ll take him to 37 (years of age),” Ponting added.

“If his hunger’s still there, then there’s every chance that he could do it. He is someone that, in the last couple of years, has gotten better and better.”

“Four or five years ago, he was making a lot of 50s and struggling to go on and make hundreds and he’s gone the other way recently.

“Almost every time he gets to 50 now, he goes on and makes a big hundred. So that’s been the real turnaround for him.”

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