ICC Test Ranking Harry Brook Number 1: Harry Brook has become the new number 1 Test batsman in the world. This is the first time in Brook’s career in the latest ICC Test rankings that he has achieved the top position by defeating his legendary teammate Joe Root. The change in rankings has been due to Brook’s sensational form, the highlight of which was his eighth Test century against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The 25-year-old scored a brilliant 123 and a quick-fire 55 in England’s 323-run win over New Zealand, giving him a career-high rating of 898. Brook is now just one point ahead of Root, who has 897 points and has reached the top position.
Brook’s rise to the top is significant as it brings him level with cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar, who both have the same 34th highest rating in Test history. His consistent performances under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes played an important role in this period’s aggressive “baseball” approach to Test cricket.
While Brook and Root have dominated the headlines, other batsmen have also made significant changes in the ICC rankings. Australia’s Travis Head has moved up six places to fifth position, thanks to his stellar performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. South African captain Temba Bavuma has also jumped three places to seventh position after his brilliant century against West Indies.
Former No. 1 Marnus Labuschagne has moved up three places to 13th, while Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal has moved up to 15th. South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreen was the leader among the batsmen, jumping 15 places to reach 23rd position.
Jasprit Bumrah remains the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, but the competition is intensifying. Australian captain Pat Cummins moved up to fourth position, while New Zealand’s Matt Henry moved up to ninth position after an impressive performance. Other fast bowlers also made progress, with Mitchell Starc up three places to 11th, Chris Woakes up two places to 15th and England’s Gus Atkinson up four places to 17th. South African spinner Keshav Maharaj re-entered the top 20 by climbing up to the same 18th position after his match-winning efforts against Sri Lanka. India’s Ravindra Jadeja dominates the Test all-rounder rankings, while Bangladesh captain Mehdi Hasan Miraj has moved up to second place after his contribution in the Caribbean.
In ODIs, West Indies players Shai Hope and Gudkesh moved up in the Moti rankings, with Hope moving up to eighth position among batsmen and Moti moving up to ninth position among bowlers. Pakistan also had reason to celebrate in the T20Is as captain Mohammad Rizwan moved up two places to sixth position among batsmen. Meanwhile, their fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has made a significant leap and has jumped six places to 20th in the bowling rankings.
