Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd don’t agree on their top five England players of all-time, but they do agree that Joe Root is the greatest.
The Yorkshireman is England’s greatest run-scorer, boasting 21,106 across all formats and is being widely tipped to end his career as the greatest Test run-scorer ever.
Currently on 13,087, Root is still a fair way behind Sachin Tendulkar at the top of the charts on 15,921, but with the 34-year-old still looking extremely good, many expect him to topple the great Indian.
His fellow Yorkshire great and former England captain Vaughan sees him as England’s greatest ever player and an example to follow for anyone competing in any sport.
‘He is. I think he’s a wonderful player and a great role model for the game,’ Vaughan told Metro of Root being England’s greatest.
‘I think he’s a great role model for all sports people to follow. Boys and girls, you just follow what Joe Root’s done and doing, you won’t be too far off.’
Ex-England coach and legendary commentator Lloyd agreed and gave another batsman as the next in line behind him, saying: ‘Yeah, he is now. He’s the best I’ve seen. Kevin Pietersen just behind him.’
Asked for his top five England players ever, Bumble pushed the boundaries a touch, giving three batters and four bowlers that stand out.
‘Root, Peterson, [Graham] Gooch are the batters,’ he said. ‘[James] Anderson, [Graham] Swann, [Bob] Willis or [Stuart] Broad.
‘We’ve had some good ones,’ he added. ‘Brian Statham, Fred Truman. We’re going back a bit now.
‘Cookie [Alastair Cook]. He won’t get in top three batters, but very effective. You want somebody to bat for you life, you’ll have him.’
Graham Gooch is possibly an England great who doesn’t always get the credit he deserves, but Vaughan also had the Essex, who played 118 Tests for his country, in his top five players.
For his top five England players ever, Vaughan went for: ‘Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Graham Gooch I’d have in there, Gooch was a gun. Jimmy Anderson and Ian Botham.’
It will take a few more years for Root to reach Tendulkar’s tally in Tests, if he does so at all, but he could overtake two other greats this summer.
With four more Tests against India to come this summer, with the second starting on Wednesday, Root has the chance to add plenty more runs to his record.
Root (13,087) has Rahul Dravid (13,288) next in his sights and then Jacques Kallis (13,289).
Then there is a significant leap to Ricky Ponting (13,378) before Tendulkar at the top of the list on 15,921.
