World Test Championship 2019-21: Top five run-getters of the tournament
The first edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) organised by ICC will come to an end in June 2021. The two finalists India and England will clash from 18th June to 22nd June at The Ageas Bowl Stadium, Southampton in England. ICC changed the rating system of WTC last year making percentage points as the criteria for qualification. India topped the points table with 12 wins from 17 games, while New Zealand remained at the second position with 7 wins from 11 matches. In this article, we will be listing out 5 players who have scored the most runs in the ongoing cycle of the World Test Championship.
5. Ajinkya Rahane – 1095
Indian vice-captain in the Test format and middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane is the leading run-scorer among his countrymen in the WTC 2019-21. He was also the first Indian to cross the 1000-run barrier in the tournament. Rahane scored 1095 runs in 28 innings at an average of 43.80 which included three centuries and 6 fifties. He was the captain of the Indian team in the last three matches of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21.
4. Ben Stokes – 1334
English All-rounder Ben Stokes made a great impact with the bat in WTC. He accumulated 1334 runs in 32 innings at an average of 46. He smashed four centuries and 7 fifties during the phase. This includes a sensational knock of 135* played against Australia at Headingley in the Ashes 2019. His highest score of 176 in WTC came against West Indies in 2020.
3. Steve Smith – 1341
Aussie player Steve Smith is regarded as the best Test batsman currently. He won the Test cricketer of the decade award in ICC annual awards this year. Smith made his comeback after one year ban with a century against England in Ashes 2019, which was also the first match of WTC 2019-21. Overall, he scored 1341 runs in 22 innings at an average of 63.85. He smashed four centuries and seven fifties in the period.
2. Joe Root – 1660
English Test captain Joe Root stands at the second spot in the tally of leading run-scorers in the World Test Championship. He has aggregated 1660 runs at an average of 47.42 including three hundreds and eight fifties. Root smashed two double centuries as well in WTC.
1. Marnus Labuschagne – 1675
Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne looked in tremendous touch during the first edition of the World Test Championship. He is the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 1675 runs from 23 innings at an excellent average of 72.82. He also smashed the most number of hundreds (5), and most fifties (9) in WTC.
