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This is the third edition of the World Test Championship (WTC). The red-ball tournament initiative was taken by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2019. New Zealand were crowned the inaugural champions after beating India in 2021. Australia took the second championship in 2023, and earlier this year, South Africa joined the party.
In this article, we will take a look at the batters with most runs in WTC history.
Most Runs in WTC History
1. Joe Root
Joe Root of England is on top in this list. He scored 6080 runs in WTC cycle at an average of 52.86 with 21 centuries and 22 fifties and also got out for a duck on eight occasions. Root's highest score in WTC is 262 which came against Pakistan in Multan. This knock took him above the 5000-run mark. He also smacked 625 fours and 17 sixes.
In July, this year, he surpassed cricket legends Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket with 13,543 runs.
2. Steve Smith
Features second on this list. In 55 Test matches, Steve Smith has scored 4278 runs at an average of 49.74. His tally also includes 13 centuries and 19 half-centuries.
Smith also smashed a memorable innings of 211 runs against England during the 2019 Ashes series, which was part of the inaugural WTC cycle (2019–2021) and continues to be his highest score in the ICC World Test Championship.
3. Marnus Labuschagne
The star Australian middle-order batter, Marnus Labuschagne, is next on this list. He currently captains Queensland and plays for Glamorgan in county cricket and for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.
Lasbuschagne has played a total of 53 matches of the ICC World Test Championship and has scored a total of 4,225 runs at an average of 48.01 which includes 11 centuries and 22 half-centuries, establishing himself as one of the most dominant batsmen of the format. Lasbuschagne scored his highest WTC score of 215 runs against New Zealand during the 2019–2021 WTC cycle.
4. Ben Stokes
At the fourth spot in our list is English international cricketer Ben Stokes who is currently serving as skipper of the England test team. He has scored 3616 runs in 57 Test matches at an average of 37.66.
Often hailed as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of international cricket, Ben Stokes gathered immense fame and recognition from all over the world for scoring a record total of 1,334 runs in seventeen matched during the 2019-21 WTC cycle and a phenomenal total of 971 runs in eighteen matches during the 2021-23 WTC cycle.
Also Read: Best figures in ICC WTC Final
5. Travis Head
Australia's explosive batter, Travis Head, is fifth on this list with 3300 runs in 52 Test matches at an average of 40.24. His tally also includes eight centuries and 15 half-centuries. He also holds the record for being the first player to win 10 Man of the Match awards in the World Test Championship.
In addition, Head joined the ranks of Joe Root, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith as the fourth player in World Test Championship history to surpass 400 boundaries. Head has managed 413 fours in just 87 innings.
