Former player Monty Panesar is backing Joe Root to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs in Test cricket. Root has been on a run-scoring spree in the last few years and has become the second-highest run scorer in red-ball cricket. He surpassed Ricky Ponting’s record of 13,378 runs during the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford.

Root has amassed 13543 runs in Tests and needs 2,378 runs to go past Sachin Tendulkar, who posted 15,921 runs.

Panesar opined on Root’s chances of becoming the highest run-getter in red-ball cricket.

“He will break it and go past Sachin Tendulkar. Joe Root will end up scoring 18,000 Test runs. He is 34 and can play for another 6 years. In 6 six years, he will score another 4,000-5000 Test runs. Tendulkar played until 40. Root will break that,” Panesar told Hindustan Times.

Root has been the highest run scorer in Test cricket in the last five years. The right-handed batter has scored 5720 runs from 61 matches, with the help of 22 hundreds and 17 fifties. He is also leading the charts in the World Test Championship (WTC), amassing 6080 runs from 69 matches, including 21 hundreds and 22 fifties.

Root will be tested by Australia in the Ashes later this year. He hasn’t scored a hundred Down Under.