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The Independent
2 minutes ago
- The Independent
Joe Root not focused on record chase after latest run landmark
Joe Root insisted reeling in Sachin Tendulkar is not a top priority after the former England captain moved up to second on the list of all-time Test run-scorers. Root overtook three greats of the game in one fell swoop with a magnificent 150 against India in the fourth Rothesay Test on Friday, leapfrogging Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid. Only Tendulkar, with a mountainous 15,921 runs, is ahead of Root, who has closed to within 2,512 with Ponting among those insisting the Little Master might not be out of reach for the Yorkshireman. While Root, who has amassed 21 centuries since turning 30 four years ago, is aware tongues will be wagging about whether he can catch Tendulkar, he is adamant it is not the be-all and end-all for him. 'I can't avoid it – they're everywhere,' Root told Sky Sports. 'It is easy to get caught up in this stuff but at the end of the day, you're playing against India in one of the biggest series there is. 'It's not about you, it's about winning the game and getting your team in a position where you can follow through on that. You're not doing your job if you're concentrating on yourself. 'When you look at the names there on that list, they are all people that, as a kid, growing up, that's who I would try and be in the garden, on the street, on the driveway, at my local club. 'Even just to be mentioned in the (same) sentence as these guys is a bit of a pinch-yourself moment.' Root's form since the start of 2021 has been breathtaking, amassing 5,586 runs at an average of 56.42, and the 34-year-old admitted some introspection during Covid was a major reason behind his uptick. 'I actually went away during that period and asked can I get some footage off Sky and just look at modes of dismissal (to see) if there were any trends,' added Root, who on Friday was stumped for only the second time in his 286 Test innings. 'One thing that I've done within that period is actually try and look at the game slightly differently. 'At the start of my career, a lot of it was based on my technique. Whereas in this second phase of things, it's been more about managing risk and thinking how can I eliminate as many modes of dismissal as possible with the highest output? 'It's very easy to get caught up, get too emotional, either get too hard on yourself or feel too sorry for yourself. You've got to see it for what it is, be very honest about it, and then just try and put that into practice.'


The Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Sun
Arsenal ready to complete quick deal for Eberechi Eze after Viktor Gyokeres saga with special £60m bid to Crystal Palace
ARSENAL are reportedly ready to swoop for Eberechi Eze once Viktor Gyokeres has been announced. The Swedish striker is set to be unveiled as the newest star to arrive at the Emirates this summer. 3 3 The Gunners agreed a £63.5million deal with Sporting Lisbon to finally sign the prolific striker to bolster Mikel Arteta 's frontline. But Arsenal are not expected to cease their transfer dealings this summer for the former Coventry City and Brighton forward. The Independent have claimed that the Crystal Palace star is favouring a move to North London this summer. It is suggested that there is a confidence that he will make the move across London. And Arsenal are keen to sign the attacking midfielder for less than his £68m release clause, which the Eagles are demanding be met. The report states that the Gunners will offer £60m but on "amenable" terms for Palace. It is also claimed that there is a good relationship between the clubs and they would both be "flexible". Palace have previously signed the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Marouane Chamakh. Arsenal has been hoping to split the deal into £20m instalments, and they could also include Reiss Nelson in negotiations. Eze, 27, has established himself as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League since his arrival at Selhurst Park. Arsenal's 2025/26 lightning bolt away kit 'leaked' as fans say 'this strip was literally made for Eze' Last season, he scored 14 goals and assisted 11 in 43 appearances in all competitions. He also scored Palace's FA Cup-winning goal against Manchester City back in May. During the Eagles' run to the final, Eze scored in all but one game as he netted against Stockport, Fulham and Aston Villa. Eze has also established himself as a regular member of the England squad and has earned 11 caps. He joined Palace back in 2020 in a £17m switch from Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers. Meanwhile, Arteta has already added Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera to his squad this summer.


BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Not something I will focus on' - Root on runs record
Batter Joe Root says he will not focus on beating Sachin Tendulkar's Test run-scoring record during the rest of his 34, moved up to second in the list with his century on day four of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford on now has 13,409 Test runs - 2,512 adrift of India legend Tendulkar's record."Those sort of things should look after themselves," Root told BBC Test Match Special."The focus has to be about winning games, setting them up if we're earlier on in the Test match and if we need to chase something down, figuring out how to play that situation well. "It might sound a little bit boring and methodical, but ultimately that's what I need to do to help England win and that's why we play the game." Root surpassed Ponting with his 120th run in England's first innings. Earlier in the knock he also pipped India great Rahul Dravid and legendary South Africa all-rounder Jacques reached his current position in his 157th Test. Tendulkar played 200 Tests between 1989 and 2013 and played in Root's debut in India in 2012."It's not something that I will focus on," Root said."Ricky's someone that I grew up admiring, watching, trying to emulate, copy in the garden and at my local club - trying to play the pull shot that he's obviously world famous for."So even just to be spoken about in the same sentence as those guys, the people that you grew up wanting to emulate and pretending to be is pretty cool."Across his career, Root is averaging 85.4 runs per match. At that rate, he would need 30 more Tests to pass since the beginning of 2021 he has averaged 93 runs per Test and since the third Test in India last year, 101 runs in 19. That would mean he would reach Tendulkar's haul in 25 Tests' time, possibly in the summer of 2027 when he would be 36. Root credited work during the Covid-19 pandemic and conversations with former England captain and TV pundit Nasser Hussain for his improvements."I actually spoke to Nass quite a bit," Root told Sky Sports."I said, 'can I get some footage?' and just look at modes of dismissal and if there were any trends and seeing the different ways I was getting out at different points in my innings."One thing I've done within that period is actually try and look at the game slightly differently. "For that start of my career, a lot of it was based on my technique: where my hands are, where my head is, am I lined up, is my trigger right? "Whereas in this second phase of things, it's been more about managing risk and thinking how can I eliminate as many modes of dismissal as possible with the highest output?"