Joe Root claims another England batting record from Alastair Cook

The Yorkshireman becomes the highest run-scorer as England Test captain, going past Cook's tally of 4,844

Joe Root is England's highest-scoring Test captain after going past Alastair Cook at the top of the standings.

Root has surpassed Cook's tally of 4,844 runs as leader of the team in his 58th Test as skipper - one match quicker than his predecessor.

He achieved the record during England's second innings of the second Ashes Test against Australia at The Adelaide Oval, after missing the start of play due to being struck in the abdomen during throw downs.

"Another one gone to Joe Root - I haven't got many left," Cook said on BT Sport. "He's slowly but surely edging his way into England's greatest batsman and he is pretty much there."

It is the latest individual achievement claimed by the 30-year-old, who has enjoyed an outstanding 2021.

During the home India Test series, he went past Cook for the most runs across all formats for England. It was during the summer he also claimed his 27th win as skipper, the most by any captain.

He is already the highest-scoring England player in a single calendar year having eclipsed Michael Vaughan's 1,871 during the first Test in Brisbane.

That haul includes six centuries, the joint-most by an England player - tied with Denis Compton and Vaughan.

And Root may yet surpass the world record set by Mohammad Yousuf, whose 1,788 runs in 19 innings came in 2006.

This year alone Root has gone past Geoffrey Boycott, Kevin Pietersen, David Gower, Alec Stewart and Graham Gooch for total Test runs for England, with Cook - who struck 12,472 - now the only player with more.

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