"Absolute Champion": England Great Lauds Joe Root For Achieving Big Feat In Tests

Former cricketer Michael Atherton heaped praise on Joe Root for becoming England's leading run-getter in Tests and called the 33-year-old an "absolute champion". Star England batter Joe Root on Wednesday achieved a remarkable feat as he went past Alastair Cook to become the leading run-getter for the Three Lions in Test cricket. Root achieved the feat during the first Test match between England and Pakistan on day three in Multan. The England batter leapfrogged Cook's record when he reached the 71-run mark at the Multan Cricket Ground.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Atherton hailed Root for achieving the milestone by playing his "classic Root-like shot". The former cricketer added that it was a lovely moment.

"I was so thrilled that he got it with a classic Root-like shot. If you think in your mind's eye of the best of Root you are thinking back-foot punch, maybe a run down to third man but the way he plays those drives down the ground. It was a gorgeous shot to get there. What a lovely moment," Atherton was quoted from Sky Sports as saying.

He added that Root has been consistent over the years and has etched his name on the elite list in a pleasing manner.

"Twelve years of excellence. That is exactly what it has been. I was there in Nagpur, I thought 'this is going to be one of our greats' but you still have to do it. You have to turn potential into performance and it is hard to think of a time when his form has dropped off. He has been so consistent over the years and he has done it in a way which is so pleasing. He is an absolute champion. He is one of our best players if not the best player we have had," he added.

Root has now scored 12,473 runs in the long format for England. Meanwhile, Cook had 12,472 runs for the Three