Joe Root is England's leading Test run-getter with 12,754 runs in 149 Tests.
England star batter Joe Root has hit back at former Australia cricketer and coach Darren Lehmann, who had taken a sly jibe at one of the best modern-era batters.
Lehman had lately discussed Root's status as one of the modern-day greats, and his perspective piqued everyone's interest. The former Australia batsman stated that Root has yet to strike a century in an Ashes series down under, and that is the only thing keeping him from being called an all-time great in his opinion.
Lehmann stated that this is why he cannot place Root in the same category as Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Virat Kohli.
"That's the only thing stopping Joe Root. He's a great player, but is he an all-time great? I don't have him in that realm. I don't have him in that realm. I think you've got to make hundreds all around the world. [Steve] Smith does, [Kane] Williamson has, Kohli has, [Rohit] Sharma has – I mean they're world-class players,” Lehmann told ABC Sports.
Ahead of the three-Test series against New Zealand, Joe Root replied to Lehmann’s comments on him. The ex-England captain stated that his job is to score runs and Lehmann can have his opinion on things. He also added that he hasn’t spoken to the ex-Australia coach and he is entitled to have an opinion on things.
"My job is to score runs, right? To turn up every game and try to do all I can out in the middle. His job is to give his opinion and talk on the radio. I've not spoken to him for a while. I'll do my job and he can do his job. He's completely entitled to say what he wants. That's his right,” Root told BBC.
Lehmann would later clarify his comments on X, saying, “Just to be clear as there are a lot of people who think, that I think Joe root is not great. He is going to be a great, I know that and a wonderful ambassador for our game but needs and he will probably do this next ashes. Get a hundred in Aus and then no dispute.”
In the first Test in Pakistan played in October, Root became England’s all-time leading scorer, leapfrogging Alastair Cook. He has a total of 12,754 runs in his kitty and is now just below Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid on the all-time list.