Can Joe Root overtake Sachin Tendulkar? Honest statement of great England player Alastair Cook

Former England captain Alastair Cook hopes Joe Root will replace the great Sachin Tendulkar at the top and become the highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket. Cook's former compatriot Root overtook him to become England's leading run-scorer in Test cricket during the ongoing series against Pakistan in Multan. After seeing his friend surpass him and become England's most decorated batsman, the 39-year-old struggled to put his feelings into words and called Root to congratulate him on his great achievement.

“I saw that moment, then after the game was over I called him,” Cook said during a round-table interview organized by the ICC.

“I couldn't think of the right words to write in the text message. So I thought I'd call him, see what he was up to, and make sure he had a beer in his hand, I guess.” That he did it,” he added.

The 33-year-old's current run tally now stands at 12,716, which is just 3,206 runs away from making India's 'God of Cricket' become the highest run-scorer in Test history.

With each passing Test, the cricket world is beginning to understand the responsibility of seeing the fall of a record that was once considered untouchable.

Before he focuses on breaking Sachin's record, Root still has six players to overcome in the process before changing the course of history.

Cook hopes that Root will surpass the Master Blaster's record in the time left in his career.

“I think Joe Root can make a mark, certainly in an England team that will be very difficult to beat. But you never know. I hope he can get very close, if ever, to 16,000 Test runs.” If not be the first, Cook said, “it would be a great accomplishment.”

Root will continue his quest to get closer to that elusive feat during the third Test against Pakistan starting in Rawalpindi on Thursday.