New Delhi: England batter Joe Root became the leading run-scorer of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle overtaking Yashasvi Jaiswal. He needed just six runs to surpass the Indian opener before the start of the Sri Lanka series.
Root scored 42 runs off 57 balls in the first innings of the opening Test match against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in Manchester and became the leading run-scorer of WTC 2023-25 cycle. He was the highest run-getter in the three-match Test series played between England and West Indies last month.
Root now has 1065 runs in 14 Test matches, including three centuries and five half-centuries. Jaiswal, who will return to action next month during the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh has scored 1028 runs in nine matches played so far in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. Jaiswal and Root are the only batters to cross 1000 run mark in the ongoing WTC cycle.
Root came to bat after the dismissal of captain Ollie Pope and stitched a crucial partnership with Harry Brook to steady England’s ship. He was dismissed by Asitha Fernando on 42 runs. Root went for the drive on the good length delivery and got the outside edge of his bat and Chandimal completed the good low catch.
“He cannot believe that he’s been suckered into that!” 🫣
A rare Joe Root loose shot costs him his wicket 😯 pic.twitter.com/ZcO3ZeQ9lj
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 22, 2024
Root can break multiple records in England vs Sri Lanka Test series
The world No. 1 Test batter has a chance to break many batting records during the ongoing three-match Test series between England and Sri Lanka. The former Test captain has scored 12,069 runs in 144 Test matches played so far and needs just 404 runs to become the leading run-scorer for England in the five-day format of the game.
Currently, Alastair Cook holds the record for scoring most Test runs for England. He has scored 12,472 runs in 161 matches played during his 12-year-long international career. In addition to that, Root will also have a chance to become the first batter in the world to score 5000 runs in the WTC.
Joe Root surpassed Yashasvi Jaiswal and became the leading run-scorer of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle during England vs Sri Lanka first Test match. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
