Former English captain Joe Root joined the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar and others by becoming only the fourth hitter in Test cricket history to score 8000 runs while batting at No. 4. Root mentioned this remarkable feat during the third Test of England’s five-match series against India.
Only three batsmen have scored as many runs or more in the aforementioned batting position: Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), and Jacques Kallis (South Africa). Root scored 104 off 199 and 40 off 96 in England’s first and second innings, respectively.
Batters to get to 8000-plus runs at No. 4 in Tests
| Sr. No. | Player | Average | Runs |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 54.40 | 13492 |
| 2 | Mahela Jayawardene | 52.25 | 9509 |
| 3 | Jacques Kallis | 61.87 | 9033 |
| 4 | Joe Root* | 51.48 | 8009 |
Joe Root has spent the majority of his nearly 13-year red-ball career batting fourth.
He batted at that position in 99 Tests (170 innings), scoring 37 fifties and 25 centuries. The 34-year-old top-order batsman has had a remarkable batting career, being identified with England’s No. 4 batter over the years.
In terms of the present game at Lord’s, England is in a precarious position. As of this writing, they had been bowled out for 192 in 62.1 overs in their second innings. Root’s 96-ball, 40-run knock was their greatest score. He also scored the most runs in their first innings.
India, on the other hand, find themselves in a commanding position with more than a day to spare. They will have taken the lead if they manage to chase the 193-run target successfully. This would be quite an iconic win considering the fact that they had lost the series opener at Headingley by five wickets. The Shubman Gill-led outfit levelled the series with a 336-run win at Edgbaston.
The fourth Test is set to be played at the Old Trafford in Manchester, which might prove to be a do-or-die game for The Three Lions, if they are to remain alive in the race for the maiden Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy win.
