25-year-old English star dethrones Joe Root in ICC rankings to become the new No. 1 Test batter
Joe Root has been the best batter in test cricket for the last few years or so. That is why he was deservingly crowned as the No. 1 test batter in the world. But he has been dethroned now. As per the latest ICC rankings, it is his teammate who has been crowned as the new No. 1 test batter in the world.
The 25-year-old English star Harry Brook has had an exceptional start to his test career. He has continued his run-scoring habit in red-ball cricket in the ongoing three-match test series against New Zealand. Brook has slammed two centuries in the first two tests, which has helped him to overtake Root to climb to the No. 1 spot in test cricket.
Root held the No. 1 ranking since July 2024, after replacing Kane Williamson. But Brook's incredible consistency has earned him a No. 1 spot. Notably, Root slammed a century in the second test in Wellington and has 897 rating points. But Brook has one more rating point (898) than him.
Harry Brook claims the No. 1 Test ranking; Travis Head moves to the 5th spot
In the first test against New Zealand, Harry Brook slammed 171 off 197 balls to help his team win. In the second test, he scored 123 off 115 balls in the first innings and 55 off 61 balls in the second innings. As a result, he also won the Player of the Match award.
In three innings, Brook has scored 349 runs at an average of 116.33 and a strike rate of 93.57, with two centuries and one fifty. His brilliant form has helped England take a 2-0, unbeatable lead in the series against New Zealand and also helped him become the new leading batter in Test cricket.
Root has slipped to second spot. Kane Williamson (812 rating points) and India's Yashasvi Jaiswal (811 rating points) have retained their positions and are in third and fourth place, respectively. Australia's Travis Head, who slammed a blistering 140 off 141 in the day-night test at Adelaide Oval, has jumped six spots up to fifth.
He is the highest-ranked Australian on the list. Kamindu Mendis has moved one spot up to sixth, while South African captain Temba Bavuma, who finished two tests against Sri Lanka with 327 runs, moved three spots up to seventh.
Rishabh Pant has dropped three spots down to ninth. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have slipped six and five spots to 20th and 31st, respectively. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah has retained his spot as No. 1 test bowler in the world.
