Joe Root becomes England’s top Test run scorer EVER – as he overtakes Alastair Cook’s tally of 12,472 in first Test against Pakistan

Joe Root has overtaken Alastair Cook to become England’s leading Test run-scorer, moving to 12,473 on the third morning of the first Test against Pakistan at Multan.

Root had begun the day on 32, needing another 39 to move past Cook and into fifth place on the all-time Test list, as England replied to Pakistan’s mammoth first-innings 556.

After losing his partner Zak Crawley in the day’s fifth over for 78, the moment came at 11.48am as Root straight-drove Aamer Jamal for a typically crisp four, bringing the England dressing-room to their feet.

Root allowed himself a fist-bump with his partner, Ben Duckett, batting at No 4 after injuring his left thumb last night, and a brief wave of the bat. With a Test to save, or possibly even win, the celebrations were characteristically unobtrusive.

He has needed just 147 Tests and 268 innings to get there, compared with Cook’s final tallies of 161 and 291. His average of almost 51 also compares favourably with Cook’s 45, though Cook spent his career opening against the new ball.

Root surpassed Alastair Cook ‘s tally of 12,472 to become England’s highest run-scorer in Test cricket – registering a total of 12,473 runs

Root’s contributions came at a crucial time for England, as they looked to respond to Pakistan’s strong first-innings total

Only Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid lie ahead of Root, who had earlier ticked off his 99th Test score of 50 or more.

The record took place in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd, with the gates thrown open for free on another scorching day in central Pakistan.

Root’s record-breaking stroke took England to 221 for two from just 43 overs, made at a rate above five.