Sri Lanka, July 25 -- With a single behind point Joe Root climbed above Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, underlining his status as a giant of the sport.

The former England captain overtook Ponting's tally of 13,378 runs when he reached 120 in the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford on Friday.

Earlier in the day he had glided past India's Rahul Dravid and South Africa's Jacques Kallis and there is now just one man above him -- Sachin Tendulkar.

The Indian great retired in 2013 with 15,921 Test runs to his name but few would bet against the voracious Root dislodging him.

"Magnificent from Root, this is a great moment in history," former Australia captain Ponting said on Sky Sports as the Manch...