"He is quite simply England's greatest, and it's absolutely right that he should have this record, on his own," Cook, who was England's captain in each of Root's first 53 Tests, said on commentary for the BBC's Test Match Special. "Take it in, Joe. We are watching a genius.

"I don't think there's a batsman that I can remember watching play [who shares] the sense of inevitability about scoring runs that Joe Root gives off. I called it when he was on about 6 today, that he was going to get 100. I know he's in great form, but it's just a pleasure to watch a master, a craftsman at work."

"The game was in the balance and he walked out to bat with his England cap on, looking 13, massive smile on his face. I watched his first few balls, and I was like, 'This bloke is here to stay.' I honestly said, 'He's scoring 10,000 runs.' I don't know who I said it to, but I know that I said it."