Harry Brook Takes Over as the No. 1 Test Batter, Ousting Joe Root
Click to start listening
Dubai, Dec 11 (NationPress) The upcoming star of England, Harry Brook, has ascended to the No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s Test Batter Rankings. This achievement signifies the first time in his career that he has reached the pinnacle, dethroning his esteemed teammate Joe Root.
The rankings adjustment follows Brook’s outstanding performance, particularly his eighth Test century against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The 25-year-old notched a remarkable 123 and a rapid 55 during England’s commanding 323-run triumph over New Zealand, which propelled him to a career-best rating of 898 points. Brook now surpasses Root, who holds 897 points, by a narrow margin of just one point.
Brook’s rise to the top is noteworthy, aligning him with cricketing icons such as Sachin Tendulkar, as both have achieved the same 34th-highest rating in Test history. His consistent performances have been crucial for England’s revival under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, during a phase characterized by their aggressive "Bazball" approach to Test cricket.
In addition to Brook and Root’s accomplishments, other players also made significant advancements in the ICC rankings. Australia’s Travis Head surged six positions to fifth, owing to his exceptional performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. South African captain Temba Bavuma also improved his standing, rising three spots to seventh after an impressive century against the West Indies.
Former No. 1 Marnus Labuschagne climbed three places to secure the 13th position, while Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal moved up to 15th. South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne was the most significant mover among batters, jumping 15 places to seize the 23rd position.
Jasprit Bumrah continues to hold the title of the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, but competition is heating up. Australian captain Pat Cummins advanced to fourth, while New Zealand’s Matt Henry moved up to ninth after impactful performances.
Other fast bowlers also saw notable gains, with Mitchell Starc climbing three spots to 11th, Chris Woakes gaining two places to 15th, and England’s Gus Atkinson jumping four positions to 17th. South African spinner Keshav Maharaj re-entered the top 20, moving to an equal 18th position following his match-winning contributions against Sri Lanka.
India’s Ravindra Jadeja continues to lead the Test all-rounder rankings, with Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz advancing to second place due to his performances in the Caribbean.
In ODIs, West Indies players Shai Hope and Gudakesh Motie made strides, with Hope climbing to eighth among batters and Motie reaching ninth among bowlers.
Pakistan celebrated in T20Is as captain Mohammad Rizwan moved up two places to sixth among batters. Meanwhile, their pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi made a notable leap, gaining six spots to reach 20th in the bowling rankings.
