The opening Test match between England and Pakistan at Headingley has witnessed a monumental milestone, as English captain Joe Root etched his name into the record books. During the first innings, the experienced batter put on a gritty display to become the very first skipper in the history of the World Test Championship to cross the 3000-run milestone. Root reached this prestigious feat by crafting a solid knock of 66 runs, consuming 112 deliveries and hitting 10 well-placed boundaries against the Pakistan bowling attack.
Through this impressive half-century, Root also equaled a notable record held by Sachin Tendulkar. Following Ben Stokes stepping down from the leadership role, Root was reappointed to captain the Test side, a responsibility he continues to shoulder with remarkable consistency.
Top 5 Captains with Most Runs in WTC History
Joe Root currently stands alone at the summit of leadership run-scorers in the World Test Championship. He has amassed a total of 3024 runs across 34 matches and 63 innings, maintaining an impressive average of 50.4. Following him in the standings is former England captain Ben Stokes, who accumulated 2182 runs in 40 matches across 71 innings at an average of 32.56.
Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne holds the third spot in this elite group, having scored 2160 runs in 24 matches and 45 innings. West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite occupies the fourth position with 1994 runs to his name. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Babar Azam sits in fifth place, having contributed 1918 runs from 20 matches across 37 innings.
Where Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Stand
In the broader picture of captaincy run-getters within the World Test Championship, Babar Azam sits ahead of India's prominent batting stalwarts. Virat Kohli secured the sixth position on the list by scoring 1349 runs, while Rohit Sharma finished in eighth place with 1254 runs. Both Kohli and Rohit have already retired from the longest format of the game, and these days both star players are seen featuring exclusively in ODI fixtures and the Indian Premier League.
England Takes Command at Headingley
Shifting focus to the ongoing Test match at Headingley, the English side placed themselves in a commanding position by posting 366 runs on the board by the end of the second day's play. England still has 2 wickets remaining in hand. Earlier in the contest, the English bowling unit efficiently bundled out Pakistan for a modest total of 171 runs. Consequently, the home side currently enjoys a substantial first-innings lead of 195 runs.
Propelling England into this dominant position was a collaborative batting effort led by captain Joe Root alongside Jordan Cox and Harry Brook. While Root contributed 66 runs, Brook fell just short of a century with 91 runs, and Cox chipped in with a valuable knock of 73 runs.
