Presenting batters with 3,000-plus runs in World Test Championship
Veteran England all-rounder Ben Stokes on July 27 became the fourth batter to complete 3,000 runs in the ICC World Test Championship. Playing his third World Test Championship event, Stokes reached the milestone with his 10th run in the third Test versus West Indies at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Here we look at all the batters with 3,000 or more WTC runs.
Ben Stokes - 3,101 runs
Stokes hammered twin fifties in the Edgbaston Test as England recorded a 3-0 clean sweep. As per ESPNcricinfo, the England Test team skipper has raced to 3,101 runs from 48 WTC games at 37.81. In addition to seven centuries, Stokes has also clocked 16 fifties. His tally of 2,773 WTC runs while batting at five or lower is the most for a batter.
Steve Smith - 3,486 runs
Arguably the finest Test batter of the modern era, Steve Smith is next on this list. He has so far scored 3,486 runs from 45 matches at a fine average of 50.52. The tally also includes nine tons and 17 half-centuries. Smith also holds the record for scoring the most runs in a WTC bilateral Test series (774 versus England in Ashes 2019).
Marnus Labuschagne - 3,904 runs
Smith's partner-in-crime in recent years, Marnus Labuschagne also makes it to this list. The Aussie batting sensation boasts 3,904 runs in 45 WTC Tests. He averages over 50 in the tournament (52.05). The 30-year-old has 19 fifties besides 11 tons, out of which two were converted into double-tons. Labuschagne's tally of nine WTC centuries at home is the most for any batter.
Joe Root - 4,598 runs
England's Joe Root is currently the only batter with over 4,000 runs in the competition. In 55 matches, Root owns 4,598 runs at an average of 49.97. His tally of 14 tons is the most for any batter in the championship. The former England skipper also owns the joint-most fifties (19). Notably, Root is also the most capped player in WTC history.
