England’s Joe Root, unbeaten on 176 at the end of Day 3 of their first Test against hosts Pakistan in Multan, became the top run-getter for his country in the format yesterday. Playing his 147th Test, Root has now amassed 12578 runs to surpass Alastair Cook (12472 runs in 161 Tests) to the feat.

Root is also the highest run-getter in Tests among active players and fifth overall after Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jaques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid.

Root, who was already the player with the most Test centuries for England, got to his 35th ton in the format and now remains sixth on the list of most centuries scored. He is the frontrunner in this regard among active players with New Zealand’s Kane Williamson next to him with 32 tons.

Root’s 243-run fourth-wicket partnership with Harry Brook is the highest partnership for England for any wickets on Pakistan soil.