The 35-year-old batsman returned to the captaincy of the England team following Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket in June 2026. This latest accomplishment highlights Root's remarkable consistency in Test cricket, as he has amassed 3,000 runs in just 34 matches and 63 innings as captain. His impressive record includes eight centuries and 13 half-centuries, with a personal best of 228 runs, all while maintaining an average of 50.13.
Root Leads the WTC Captaincy Rankings
Root's achievement places him well ahead of other leading run-scorers in the WTC captaincy rankings. Former England captain Ben Stokes ranks second with 2,182 runs from 40 matches, followed closely by Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne, who has 2,160 runs. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Pakistan's Babar Azam follow with 1,994 and 1,918 runs, respectively. Root's milestone came during a dominant batting performance by England, who concluded Day 2 with a score of 366-8, establishing a first-innings lead of 195 runs over Pakistan.
In this match, Root contributed significantly with a score of 66, forming a crucial 150-run partnership with Jordan Cox, who added 73 runs. Harry Brook narrowly missed a century, finishing with 91 runs at his home ground, while Dan Lawrence, returning to Test cricket after a two-year hiatus, chipped in with a solid 51. On the bowling side, Pakistan's Ali Usman stood out, claiming 5 wickets for 92 runs, marking his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The visitors had struggled on the opening day, being bowled out for just 171 runs, which left England in a commanding position as they capitalized on several opportunities to extend their lead.
For Root, this milestone is yet another testament to his enduring excellence in Test cricket, solidifying his place at the top of the WTC captaincy batting charts.
