Ricky Ponting backs this batter to surpass Tendulkar's Test runs record

Australia cricket legend Ricky Ponting believes England's star batter Joe Root has the potential to surpass both him and Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in Test cricket history. 

Root, who recently crossed the 12,000-run milestone, is currently the seventh-highest run-scorer of all time and has his sights set on Tendulkar's monumental record of 15,921 runs.

In a recent edition of The ICC Review, Ponting discussed Root's incredible form and praised the 33-year-old's ability to convert good starts into big scores, a key factor in his recent success. 

Ponting, who sits second on the all-time run-scoring list with 13,378 runs, acknowledged that Root is just 1,351 runs behind him and less than 4,000 runs away from overtaking Tendulkar.

"He could potentially do that," Ponting said when asked if Root could break Tendulkar's record. "He is 33 years of age…(more than) 3000 runs behind. It depends how many Test matches they play, but if they're playing 10 to 14 Test matches a year and if you're scoring 800 to 1000 runs a year, then that sort of says he's only three or four years off getting there. So that'll take him to 37 (years of age).

"If his hunger's still there, then there's every chance that he could do it."

Root's 32nd Test century, scored last month against the West Indies in Nottingham, marked the fourth time he has reached triple figures since the start of last year. 

Ponting noted how Root's ability to convert fifties into hundreds has been a significant improvement in his game.

"He is someone that in the last couple of years has got better and better," Ponting added.

"There's always talk around batters reaching their prime in their early 30s and he's certainly done that.

"It's been his conversion rates being the big thing. Four or five years ago, he was making a lot of 50s and struggling to go on and make hundreds and he's gone the other way recently.

"Almost every time he gets to 50 now, he goes on and makes a big hundred. So that's been the real turnaround for him."