Joe Root etched his title into the World Check Championship document books on Friday, changing into the primary participant to attain 3,000 runs as a captain within the WTC throughout England’s opening Check towards Pakistan at Headingley in Leeds.Root wanted 42 runs to succeed in the landmark firstly of the match and accomplished the milestone within the second session of Day 2. The Yorkshire batter had resumed the day unbeaten on 37 after England reached 112-2 on a rain-affected opening day. He added the remaining 5 runs after lunch to carry up 3,000 WTC runs as captain.The 35-year-old returned to the England captaincy following Ben Stokes’ retirement from worldwide cricket in June 2026. His newest achievement additional underlined his consistency within the longest format, with Root now having 3,000 runs from 34 matches and 63 innings as WTC captain. He has scored eight centuries and 13 fifties, with a highest rating of 228, whereas averaging 50.13.Root is comfortably forward of the main run-scorers within the WTC as captain. Former England skipper Stokes occupies second place with 2,182 runs from 40 matches, adopted by Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne on 2,160. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite has 1,994 runs, whereas Pakistan’s Babar Azam has 1,918.Root’s milestone got here throughout one other sturdy batting show from England, who ended Day 2 on 366-8, taking a first-innings lead of 195 runs over Pakistan.Root scored 66 and performed a key position in a 150-run partnership with Jordan Cox, who made 73. Harry Brook narrowly missed out on a century, falling for 91 at his residence floor. Dan Lawrence, enjoying his first Check in two years, additionally contributed with a 51.Pakistan’s Ali Usman was the standout bowler, claiming 5-92 for his first five-wicket haul in Check cricket.The guests had been dismissed for simply 171 on the opening day, leaving England firmly answerable for the primary Check. Pakistan’s bowling and fielding additionally got here underneath scrutiny as England’s batters capitalised on a number of alternatives to construct a considerable lead.For Root, nonetheless, the main focus was on one other landmark in a Check profession that continues to supply information. His 3,000 WTC runs as captain put him alone on the high of the match’s captaincy batting charts.
