Former Australian all-rounder Darren Lehmann has put his weight behind Joe Root to leapfrog Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of runs in Test cricket. Lehmann also rated the veteran English batter as the greatest player after Sir Don Bradman.

Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-getter in the red-ball version as he amassed 15921 runs in 200 Test matches at an average of 53.80. Joe Root, on the other hand, is hot on the heels of Tendulkar’s record, as he has accumulated 13937 runs in 163 Test matches at an average of 51.24.

Root scored a stunning knock of 160 runs off 242 balls in the first innings of the ongoing fifth Ashes Test against Australia at Sydney. The veteran right-hander added 169 runs with Harry Brook for the fourth wicket. Thus, he played an instrumental role in helping the tourists post a competitive total of 384 runs on the board after Ben Stokes decided to bat first.

Root had not scored a century on the Australian shores before this series but has scored two tons in the ongoing Ashes, with one inning to spare.

Darren Lehmann said as quoted by TOI, “I’ve said it before, once he ticked off the hundred in Australia, he’ll be the greatest player outside of Bradman, statistically. He’ll break all the records. He’ll beat Tendulkar, he’ll make more hundreds than anyone else. And it’ll take a lot of catching because he’s quite fit.”

On the other hand, Root, 35, also opened up on the possibility of playing one last Ashes in Australian conditions.

“Who knows? We’ll see. I’d love to, but we’ll see how things unfold in time,” said Root (via the aforementioned source).

At stumps on Day three, Australia were 518-7, leading England by 134 runs with Steve Smith remaining unbeaten on 129.