Ben Stokes names what 'sets Joe Root apart from anyone else' after epic England feat

England star Ben Stokes believes that Joe Root's 'selflessness' makes his new status as the nation's all-time leading test run-scorer even more impressive.

Root overtook Sir Alastair Cook to top the pile on day three of the first test against Pakistan, taking him beyond the former captain's 12,472-run total. He reached the magic number in fewer tests than Cook, posting an average in excess of 50.

Stokes, who sits 16th on the all-time list with just over half of Root's run total, has paid tribute to the 33-year-old with a glowing review of what he brings to the team.

"The amount of times that he's won us the game with the bat... never mind the conversion rate because, you know, converting these 50s and 100s doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to win the game," he told England Cricket.

"But the selflessness that he has is an incredible attribute for him. He always puts the team first and the fact that he has got so many runs is just a bonus for us.

"He's an incredible player and it's going to take someone a long, long time to come in and break that record. A great bloke and an unbelievable feat to score that many runs.

"But the non-selfishness that he possesses is one thing that sets him apart from anybody else who will play for England for a long time."

Only four players in the history of the sport have scored more test runs than Root - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting. And Root is projected to overtake Tendulkar at the very top of the list if he maintains his scoring form over the next three or four years.

Cook was on hand to react to the straight drive which took Root past his career total on Wednesday, telling BBC Test Match Special: "Root would have known [he had broken the record]. You just do, don't you? And what a shot to do it.

"Probably for Joe Root now, he's got bigger fish to fry. I don't know what his exact aim is, but he's not lost that hunger and desire to keep on scoring runs. Losing the captaincy and going back into the ranks wasn't an easy thing. It's as if it's taken him to another level on consistency."