Joe Root is going through a dream run in Test cricket. The England stalwart has been mighty consistent since the start of the World Test Championship (WTC), scoring 5543 runs, including 18 hundreds.

Root is chasing Sachin Tendulkar's historic record of most runs in Test cricket. He is just 2949 runs away from Tendulkar's historic feat and a couple of good years will help him break the record.Root will be vital for England in the five-match Test series against India from June 20. Ahead of the marquee series, Root will play a four-day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in Nottingham from May 22.

Joe Root On Cusp Of History

Joe Root can break a massive record if he can score 28 runs in the Test. Root currently has 12972 runs to his name in 152 Test matches, and if he can score 28 more runs, he will become the first player in the world to score 13000 Test runs in less than 155 matches. The record is currently held by Jacques Kallis, who scored 13000 Test runs in 159 matches.In terms of the fewest innings taken to score 13000 Test runs, Sachin Tendulkar tops the charts as he reached the milestone in 266 innings. Root, if he scores the runs in the first innings, will become be slowest to reach the landmark in 279 innings.

Kallis, Ricky Ponting, and Rahul Dravid achieved the feat in 269, 275 and 277 innings.

Most Runs In Test Cricket

Name	Runs	Matches	Innings	Centuries
Sachin Tendulkar	15,921	200	329	51
Ricky Ponting	13,378	168	287	41
Jacques Kallis	13,289	166	280	45
Rahul Dravid	13,288	164	286	36
Joe Root	12,972	152	278	30

Can Root Reach The Magical Figure Of Most Hundreds?

While the record for most runs in Test cricket is within the reach of Joe Root, breaking the record of most hundreds in the format looks challenging.

Root has 36 hundreds to his name and he needs another 16 hundreds to leapfrog Tendulkar. He will have to score centuries consistently to get close to Tendulkar. It's tough, but not impossible.