In August 2019, a new ICC event called World Test Championship kicked off. It is supposed to be the epitome of international Test cricket. The inaugural World Test Championship 2019-21 concluded with New Zealand beating India in the final in Southampton. Scoring runs at such a platform has not been not easy. Some players in Test cricket have made scoring reasons look so easy with their class and skills. Brought to you are the Top 10 Run Scorers In World Test Championships (Till 26 February 2022)-
1. Joe Root (England)
Since the inception of this championship, England’s captain Joe Root is the only batter to have breached the 2500-run mark. In 54 innings, he has scored 2546 runs at an average of 49.92. He has 12 half-centuries, 3 centuries, and 3 double-centuries to his name. He has hit most fours (270) in this championship. His highest score of 228 came against Sri Lanka in Galle in January 2021.
2. Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)
This South Africa-born Australian batter has grabbed everyone’s eyeballs since his Test debut against Pakistan in 2018. Marnus Labuschagne has scored 2010 runs in 32 innings. His astounding average of 64.83 is the highest in the World Test Championships. He has scored six 100+ scores in this tournament which is a record he shares with Joe Root. And we can’t forget 11 half-centuries. His 215-run knock against New Zealand in Sydney in January 2020 is his best score.
3. Steve Smith (Australia)
Steve Smith’s redemption after the sandpaper scandal has been successful. His performance in the World Test Championships has been a brilliant one. In 30 innings, he has recorded 1585 runs at an average score of 54.65. In the fourth Ashes Test in 2019, he smashed 211 in the first inning. This was his best score of WTCs. He has a double-century, 3 centuries, and 9 half-centuries to his name. In the pink-ball Test against Pakistan in 2019, he became the fastest batter to score 7000 Test career runs.
4. Ben Stokes (England)
Ben Stokes is most remembered for his miraculous innings in the third Ashes Test 2019 in Headingley. In 42 innings, he has scored 1570 runs at an average of just over 40. He has hit most sixes (35) in this championship. He scored a brilliant 176 against West Indies in July 2020 in Manchester. He also has 3 more 100+ scores and 8 half-centuries to his name.
5. Rohit Sharma (India)
Rohit Sharma has smashed 31 sixes (second-highest) in 27 innings. He has been on fire since the WTC started. He has scored 1462 runs in only 27 innings at an average of 58.48 (fourth-highest). He shares the record for hitting second-most (5) 100+ scores with Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne. His highest score (212) came in his comeback series against South Africa in October 2019.
6. Ajinkya Rahane (India)
In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in 2020-21, India was bowled out for only 36 (its lowest Test score) in the third innings and eventually lost the match by 8 wickets. Captain Virat Kohli went on paternity leave, giving the charge of the bruised team to Ajinkya Rahane. Against every possible odd, Rahane led the Indian team to a miraculous 2-1 series victory. He scored a century in the second Test. Overall, in 45 WTC innings, Rahane has scored 1443 runs at an average of 34.35.
7. Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli has an average of 38.54 in 37 innings in which he has scored 1349 runs. His classic cover drives and on drives are a treat to watch. In the second Test against the Proteas in Pune in October 2019, he smashed his career-best 254* (third-highest individual score in WTC). He led India into the final of the WTC 2019-21 but missed out on the trophy by 8 wickets.
8. Cheteshwar Pujara (India)
Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara is known for his slow and cautious approach to the game. He has the knack for wearing the bowlers down with his defensive skills. His defensive strokes help him to keep one end safe, soften the ball (making it easier for batters coming next to play) and tire the bowlers. He has scored 1287 runs in 48 innings. Surprisingly, he has no 100+ scores to his name in the WTCs. His best score of 91 came against England in Leeds in August 2021.
9. Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)
Dimuth Karunaratne has played only 22 innings and has scored 1277 runs at an average of 58.04. He has scored five (tied with Rohit Sharma) 100+ scores and five half-centuries. His best career-best score of 244 came against Bangladesh in Pallekele in April 2021. He is also the current Test captain of Sri Lanka.
10. Mayank Agarwal (India)
Mayank Agarwal has become a regular opening batter for India in Tests since his debut against Australia in 2018. In 30 innings of the World Test Championships, he has scored 1234 runs at an average of 41.13. In the opening Test against Bangladesh in November 2019 in Indore, he scored his career-best 243 runs. He has hit 23 sixes (third-most) in the WTC.
