Joe Root is the second-highest run scorer in the ongoing World Test Championship 2023-25. He became only the second batter after India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal to score 1000 or more runs in this WTC cycle.
Jaiswal is at the top with 1028 runs in nine tests, while Root is just five runs behind him with 1023 runs in 13 Tests. However, the former English captain has a golden chance to overtake Jaiswal, as England are all set to host Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series on August 21.
These two teams will play three Tests, and the way Root is going at the moment and his form indicate that he will be eyeing scoring a few centuries in three Tests against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, he will be eyeing three big records during the ENG vs SL Test series as well.
ENG vs SL: Joe Root is ranked No. 1 Test batter in the World
Joe Root recently overtook New Zealand’s Kane Williamson to become the new No. 1 ranked Test batter in the world. The 33-year-old had a brilliant series against West Indies. He was the leading scorer in the series with 291 runs with a brilliant average of 72.75, including one century and two half-centuries.
According to some former cricketers, Joe Root can break the record of Sachin Tendulkar for most runs (15921 runs in 200 Tests) in Test cricket. Though that record is still very far away, Root will eye some big milestones in the upcoming ENG vs SL Test series. He is on the verge of breaking some big records.
Former English captain Alastair Cook currently holds the record for most Test runs for England. Cook scored 12472 runs in 161 matches at 45.35, with 33 centuries. Joe Root has played 143 Tests and scored 12027 runs at an average of 50.11 and 32 centuries and 62 half-centuries.
Root needs another 446 runs to become the leading scorer for England in Test cricket. With the way he is performing, and against Sri Lanka’s inexperienced bowling attack, Root can fancy his chances to break this record. Apart from this, Joe Root is also the leading scorer in the World Test Championship.
Since 2019, he has scored 4598 runs in 55 Tests at an average of 49.97 with a best of 228. He has scored 14 centuries and 19 half-centuries. He is more than 600 runs ahead of second-ranked Marnus Labuschange (3904). If Root can score 402 runs in the ENG vs SL series, he will become the first player to score 5000 runs in WTC history.
