Joe Root becomes England's leading Test run-scorer overtaking Sir Alastair Cook

Joe Root has surpassed Sir Alastair Cook to become England's top scorer in Test match history.

The 33-year-old player surpassed Cook's record of 12,472 runs on the third day of the opening Test against Pakistan in Multan. He hit a boundary that brought him up to 71 not out off 111 balls, starting the day needing 38 runs to catch up with his ex-teammate's score.

This summer, Root surpassed Cook's record of 33 Test centuries for England by hitting two hundreds against Sri Lanka at Lord's.

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The Yorkshire player has climbed to become the fifth-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs), Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs), and Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs).

Root played his first Test match against India in Nagpur in December 2012, where he made 73 runs in his opening innings while batting at the No. 6 spot.

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He scored his first Test century, which is now one of 34, against New Zealand at Headingley the next May, and he achieved his first double century against Sri Lanka at Lord's in June 2014.

Root's top score in Test matches is 254, which he achieved while playing against Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford in July 2016. This was one of five occasions on which he has scored 200 or more in this format.

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"I was really excited to see him score with a typical Root-style shot," remarked Michael Atherton from Sky Sports Cricket.

When you picture Joe Root at his best, you might envision his signature back-foot punch or a quick run to third man. However, what really stands out are the way he elegantly drives the ball down the pitch.

The journey to reach that place was stunning. It was truly a beautiful experience.

"Twelve years of outstanding achievement. That's precisely what we've experienced."

When I arrived in Nagpur, I had a feeling that this was going to be something special, but you still need to make it happen.

You need to transform potential into actual results, and it's difficult to recall a moment when his performance has declined.

He has maintained a remarkable level of consistency throughout the years, and he has achieved it in a manner that is truly delightful.

"He’s truly outstanding. He's among our top players, if not the finest we've ever had."

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Nasser: It Was Inevitable Root Would Shine Again

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"I can barely recall any instances where Root has had poor performances," Nasser Hussain remarked.

There have been moments when he needed to draw on his inner strength, and times when he faced pressure in his role as captain.

He entered the scene at a challenging 20-2 record and has had to put in a lot of effort and determination.

Today, there was a sense that something was bound to happen.

It was clear that given his skill, the playing conditions, and his passion for the game, he was destined to reach that target of 71 runs today.

Over the course of those 12 years, he has maintained a cheerful demeanor, which isn't something everyone can do.

The responsibilities of captaincy have affected him, but his batting skills remain unaffected.

"He is an incredibly genuine person and an excellent representative for this sport."