Ace England batter Joe Root joined Virat Kohli in an illustrious list on Thursday as the former continued his run-scoring spree against Pakistan in the first Test in Multan. He became only the second active cricketer after Kohli to go past the 20000-run mark in international cricket. Kohli has 27041 runs across formats, while Root just went past the mark after he scored 183 runs on Day 4 of the game.

Root enjoyed a bit of luck on Thursday morning in Multan as he was dropped on 186 by Babar Azam, denying Naseem Shah a breakthrough. Since then, he upped his ante and scored his sixth double-hundred in Tests as Pakistan endured extreme pressure.

After breaking Cook's tally of runs in Tests for England, Root also went past Cook's five double hundreds and is now the second batter behind Wally Hammond with the most Test double hundreds for England. Hammond had seven to his name by the end of his career back in 1947.

Virat Kohli: 27041 runs

Joe Root: 19817 runs

Rohit Sharma: 19276 runs

Kane Williamson: 18266 runs

Steve Smith: 16362 runs

Ever since he scored yet another hundred on Thursday, Root went on to break several records. Earlier on Day 3, he went past former England captain Alastair Cook's tally of 12,472 runs to become England's all-time run-getter in Tests.

During England's tour of Pakistan two years back, Root could score just one half-century although the visitors managed to win the series. But this time, he continued from where he had left off against Sri Lanka at home and kept going at full strength.

Root was accompanied by fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook, who scored his maiden Test double-hundred and at lunch on Day 4, England were at 658/3, leading Pakistan by 102 runs.

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