Travis Head might have returned to the pavilion cheaply on Day 1 of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 final against South Africa but achieved a big milestone. Despite the flop show with the bat on Day 1 at Lord's Head left Rohit Sharma behind in a notable Test record. While his score of 11 runs off 13 balls might not seem remarkable, it allowed Head to etch his name in history.
During his brief innings, Head became the batter with the second-highest number of runs scored in ICC finals. Entering the WTC final, he had accumulated 318 runs in these prestigious matches and needed just 5 more to move past Rohit Sharma. He successfully achieved this feat and now occupies the second position in this exclusive list.
Rohit Sharma currently holds 322 runs across 11 ICC finals. However, Travis Head's tally now stands at 329 runs in a mere four innings, highlighting his dominance in these crucial encounters. Leading the chart is Indian star Virat Kohli, who has scored 411 runs in 11 innings. While Kohli's record is impressive, Head's exceptional conversion rate in finals is particularly noteworthy.
Rohit Sharma now sits in third place with his 322 runs, followed by the Sri Lankan legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in fourth and fifth positions, respectively. With another innings remaining in the WTC final, Head will be eager to capitalize on the opportunity and potentially surpass Virat Kohli's leading record.
Batters with most runs in ICC finals:
| Players | Runs | Innings |
| Virat Kohli | 411 | 11 |
| Travis Head | 329 | 4 |
| Rohit Sharma | 322 | 11 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 320 | 7 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 270 | 7 |
Head's history in ICC finals speaks volumes of his big-match temperament. In his debut ICC final for Australia during the 2023 WTC against India, he played a sensational innings, smashing a counter-attacking century that proved crucial in his team's victory. He continued his dominance in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, where he again tormented the Indian side with a brilliant century under pressure, helping Australia secure their sixth 50-over World title.
South Africa playing XI:
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Australia playing XI:
Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood