MITCHELL JOHNSON: Joe Root has worked hard to surpass Alastair Cook as England’s all-time run scorer

It feels like Joe Root has been around forever but looking at his baby face, you’d say he has many years at the crease in front of him.

Overnight Root took over from Sir Alastair Cook as England’s highest Test run scorer of all time.

The 33-year-old Root, playing his 147th Test against Pakistan, passed Cook’s tally of 12,472 runs in 14 fewer Test matches.

He was 176no at stumps on day three with England 3-492 - just 64 behind the hosts’ 556.

Like Cook, Root is one of those batsmen who plays Test cricket like a Test cricketer. By that I mean he values his wicket.

Root was one of the big four batters who emerged at the back end of my career along with Australia’s Steve Smith, India’s Virat Kohli and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.

All had different styles, temperaments and run-scoring abilities. The thing they all had in common to make them stand out was they scored runs when needed.

On my final Ashes tour in 2015, Root came out to bat at Edgbaston greeted by a loud booing noise from the crowd. Initially, I thought they had turned on their very own. Instead, the crowd loved him and it was a drawn out “Roooooot” in a way and tone that sounded like “boooooo”.

I’d like to give you the inside story of some bitter Ashes run-in we had but in truth, there wasn’t one.

He seemed very relaxed at the crease and seemed to smile a lot, even when us big dopey quicks were in his face giving him an earful.

He did bite back on one occasion, which was exactly what I was trying to get from him and he was unfocused for a period of time.

But overall, he was generally very good at being in the moment and playing each ball on its merits.

Root had, and has, some of the best soft hands in English conditions. He’s able to play the ball down in front of the slips which was frustrating but also proves he is one very skilful player. He plays the ball late and under his eyes, giving him so much time.

In the 2013-14 Ashes at the Gabba he came in to bat at number six as a youngster and had a nervous smile on his face with England in a bit of trouble.

He had spoken in the media about a technical thing he was working on, so I decided to use that.

After delivering my first ball to him I stopped at the end of my follow through and looked through him to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and asked Hads if Rooty was doing the technical things with his hands he spoke about.

Root looked at me and smiled and laughed a little. My hope was to get him thinking about that instead of what ball was coming down at him next and it seemed to work as I managed to get him cheaply.

He had made 180 over nearly eight hours as an opener against Australia at Lord’s earlier that year so we had some idea of the player he could become.

Like all the other best players, you had to find ways to beat them. Sometimes you needed to play those mind games and at other times say nothing.

Root was a guy you had to get out early. The plan was to get the ball full early, pretty much half-volley length and get him driving you down the ground.

We thought that his feet got stuck early but once he was in, he had one of the better cover drives for a right-hander.

He was a very correct and traditional Test bat with a little bit extra in shots when compared to Cook.

One thing I have noticed in recent times watching from afar is that Root tried to adopt the Bazball method with his own batting after the appointment of Brendon McCullum as coach.

Going all out didn’t suit his style and what the team needed from him was how he is batting now on his way to a double ton.

You can see how much it has meant to Root to play for his country. Standing down as captain has lengthened his career.

It was looking like an early end at one point but this is what the best players do. They find a way. You have to evolve with the game and he has clearly done this.

You always want to play against the best and he was one of the best I bowled to.

It doesn’t just happen, scoring runs the way he has. He’s been a great Test competitor and with plenty more to come you would say.