Brook reclaims No.1 Test ranking; Gill rises to eighth after Afghanistan ton
Synopsis
Harry Brook needed just a 56 at Lord's to dethrone Joe Root — and that tells its own story about how thin the margins are at the top of Test cricket. With Brook back at No.1 ahead of The Oval Test and Shubman Gill climbing on the back of a century against Afghanistan, the ICC rankings are shifting at pace across both formats.
Key Takeaways
Harry Brook reclaimed the ICC No.1 Test batter ranking after scoring 56 in England's 115-run win over New Zealand at Lord's .
Joe Root dropped to third ; Travis Head climbed to second .
India captain Shubman Gill rose two places to eighth after hitting 126 against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh .
England pacer Gus Atkinson broke into the top 10 Test bowlers, moving to tenth .
Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed climbed to second in ODI bowling rankings after six wickets in the series win over Australia.
Harry Brook has reclaimed the No.1 position in the ICC Test batter rankings, leapfrogging England teammate Joe Root following a gritty 56 in the opening innings of England's 115-run victory over New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship match at Lord's. Meanwhile, India captain Shubman Gill climbed two places to eighth after scoring 126 against Afghanistan in a dominant innings-and-300-run win.
Brook's Return to the Summit
Brook's 56 was one of only two half-centuries in the Lord's contest, proving decisive enough to dislodge Root, who managed scores of just 1 and 8 and slipped to third. Australia's Travis Head moved up to second in the process. Brook had first reached the top spot in December 2024 and now reasserts his claim ahead of the second Test, scheduled at The Oval on 17 June.
Gill's Rise and India's Gains
India captain Shubman Gill struck 126 against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, propelling him two places up the rankings to eighth. The one-off match was a comprehensive display, with India winning by an innings and 300 runs. Gill's century underscored his growing authority at the top of the order as India's red-ball skipper.
England's Batting Depth on Show
Several England batters also made notable gains. Ben Duckett rose three places to 15th, Jamie Smith climbed five spots to equal 23rd, and Glenn Phillips surged 15 places to 40th. The collective movement reflects England's strong batting performance in the Lord's Test.
Bowling Rankings: Atkinson Breaks Top 10
In the bowling charts, England pacer Gus Atkinson gained seven slots to enter the top 10 Test bowlers at tenth, also moving to sixth among all-rounders. New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson (22nd) and Ollie Robinson (23rd) re-entered the rankings, while Kiwi pacer Nathan Smith jumped 16 places to 43rd.
ODI Rankings: Abrar Ahmed Climbs to Second
In the ODI bowling chart, Pakistan wrist-spinner Abrar Ahmed rose two places to second after claiming six wickets in Pakistan's series win over Australia. Shaheen Afridi climbed four spots to ninth with seven scalps. Australia's Nathan Ellis improved 13 places to 31st, and Bangladesh's Nahid Rana surged 23 slots to 24th. Among ODI batters, Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis (12th) and Janith Liyanage (22nd) made gains, as did Bangladesh left-hander Tanzid Hasan, who moved up seven places to 33rd.
With the second England-New Zealand Test at The Oval set for 17 June, Brook will look to consolidate his position at the summit of the world's toughest batting rankings.
Point of View
With marginal performance differences separating the world's best. Root's slide to third is a statistical blip more than a form concern, but it hands Brook psychological momentum ahead of The Oval. For Gill, the century against Afghanistan flatters the ranking move slightly — Afghanistan's Test record means the context matters — but his consistency as India's red-ball captain is building a genuine case for a higher ceiling. The more interesting subplot is Atkinson's entry into the top 10 bowlers: England's pace depth is increasingly doing the heavy lifting that their spinners once did.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Harry Brook reclaim the No.1 ICC Test batter ranking?
Harry Brook reclaimed the top spot by scoring 56 in England's 115-run victory over New Zealand at Lord's, one of only two half-centuries in the match. His score, combined with Joe Root's poor returns of 1 and 8, was enough to push Brook back to the summit.
Where does Shubman Gill stand in the ICC Test rankings now?
Shubman Gill moved up two places to eighth in the ICC Test batter rankings after scoring 126 against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. India won that one-off Test by an innings and 300 runs.
Who is ranked second in ICC Test batting after Brook's rise?
Australia's Travis Head climbed to second in the ICC Test batter rankings, with Joe Root slipping to third following his low scores at Lord's.
What changes occurred in the ICC Test bowling rankings?
England pacer Gus Atkinson gained seven slots to enter the top 10 at tenth position, also moving to sixth among all-rounders. New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson and Ollie Robinson re-entered the rankings, while Nathan Smith jumped 16 places to 43rd.
What happened in the ICC ODI rankings?
Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed rose to second in ODI bowling after taking six wickets in Pakistan's series win over Australia, while Shaheen Afridi climbed to ninth. Among batters, Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis reached 12th and Bangladesh's Tanzid Hasan moved up seven places to 33rd.
