Joe Root Backs Harry Brook to Break Records

Joe Root: Harry Brook's 317 is just the first of his 'monster' scores

Batter backs team-mate to challenge his England record runs total by end of career

Joe Root believes that Harry Brook's triple-century in Multan is the first of many "monster scores" in his Test career—and hopes that Brook will one day surpass him to become England's all-time leading run-scorer.

Root and Brook spent 86.1 overs batting together in a partnership worth 454, breaking the world record for the fourth wicket and England's record for any wicket. Their stand set up England's declaration with a lead of 267, enabling them to push towards an innings victory despite conceding 556 in their first innings on a lifeless pitch.

Having surpassed Alastair Cook to become England's highest run-scorer in Test history when he reached 71 on the third day, Root went on to reach a career-best score of 262. While he has the opportunity to put the record out of reach in the coming years, Root believes Brook's "complete game" could eventually enable him to catch up.

"I hope so," Root said. "You want to create an environment and a team where things are always improving and always getting better. You want the guys that come in to play with that belief that they can go and do really special things. If guys in the future are breaking records, then England are in a good place and they're scoring a lot of runs, so hopefully that is the case."

"I love playing with Brooky. I've batted a lot together with him at Yorkshire, and seeing him come into this team and fit so seamlessly into Test cricket has been awesome. To get the opportunity to stand there at the other end and watch him go and smack 300 is pretty surreal, really. Being part of this partnership and contributing to such a historic score is pretty cool too."

Brook, who was just 18 when he first played alongside Root for Yorkshire, described him as "mega" to bat with. "It makes you feel so comfortable when you're watching him at the other end. He makes the game look so easy when he's playing the ball so late and making the bowlers look so slow. We just tried to cash in on what was a good pitch."

Root described Brook's innings as a "masterclass," reflecting the strides he has made in his young career—not least the fitness drive that enabled him to spend seven hours at the crease. "One of the best things with Harry is he's such a quick learner. His natural game, especially in the corridor outside off stump, is exactly what you want from someone in the middle order."

Brook joked after his innings that there was a time, not so long ago, that he might have "made 150 and had a slog" instead of pushing on towards one of the highest scores in England's history. After missing the tour of India and the subsequent IPL following the death of his grandmother earlier this year, Brook used the downtime to work on his stamina in training, and Root acknowledged the benefits were plain to see.

"He's gone away and worked extremely hard on his fitness. That's why you put the training in—not just from a physical point of view, but mentally. When you do that training that you don't really want to do and put yourself in a dark place in practice, then when you get there in the game, it becomes that much easier because you've done it before."

Brook has now scored more Test runs in six innings in Pakistan than in 21 innings at home, with three hundreds on England's most recent tour here in 2022. He simply ascribed it to "chance," but his feats have not gone unnoticed among his teammates. "I'm very glad that he was born in England and not in Pakistan because his record here is just a joke," Root said.

Root has played down the significance of his own status as England's leading run-scorer, explaining that his ambitions extend beyond that. "When I say that, I don't mean it in an arrogant way. I've just never really been driven by it. The biggest driver for me is how many games we can win now for the rest of my career. How many games can you affect with the bat and contribute towards? There's no better feeling than being able to potentially go and win a Test match tomorrow."

For cricket enthusiasts and fans keen on following such monumental performances, using an online cricket ID provider can enhance their experience, allowing them to engage more deeply with the sport. As cricket continues to evolve, so too do avenues like betting, where a reliable betting ID provider can offer a seamless way to participate.

"After that first Pakistan innings, not many people would have given us a shout at going and doing that. The exciting thing that keeps bringing you back is opportunities like tomorrow. I can't wait to turn up again and hopefully do something really special as a group."

With the increasing attention on performances like Brook's, finding the right cricket ID provider and betting ID can add a layer of excitement for fans who want to stay connected to the action