Joe Root Becomes The Highest Ranked Test Batter In ICC Rankings

Marnus Labuschagne’s reign as the world’s best Test batter is over, with England’s Joe Root taking the top spot in the ICC MRF Tyres Men’s Test Batter rankings.

Following knocks of 103 and 51 against England in Adelaide in December last year, Labuschagne rose to the top of the rankings, but Root’s current form has seen the Australian displaced at the summit.

Marnus Labuschagne Will Have The Opportunity To Reclaim The Top Spot From Joe Root When He Plays Against Sri Lanka

Root, who has already made four hundred this calendar year and is only the second Englishman to score more than 10,000 Test runs, has jumped ahead of Labuschagne to become the world’s No. 1 batter.

The Englishman currently has a total of 897 rating points, five more than second-placed Labuschagne.

When Australia plays Sri Lanka in a two-match World Test Championship series away from home later this month, Labuschagne may get an opportunity to reclaim top billing, but Root too has a demanding time of Test cricket ahead of him.

Root is now in the middle of a three-match Test series against New Zealand, with England also hosting a one-off Test against India and three matches against South Africa in the coming months.

The new Test rankings have Australia’s Steve Smith in third place, with Pakistan captain Babar Azam and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson rounding out the top five.

Daryl Mitchell made the biggest jump in the rankings, rising 33 places to 17th overall with scores of 190 and 69* in the second Test against England at Trent Bridge.

The current bowling rankings have been reshuffled, with towering Kiwi quick Kyle Jamieson sliding three spots to sixth after injuring his back against England.

As a result, India’s Jasprit Bumrah (third), Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi (fourth), and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (fifth) all moved up a spot, while two of Jamieson’s New Zealand teammates switched places inside the top ten.

Trent Boult, an experienced left-armer, gained four spots to ninth in the bowling rankings, but compatriot Tim Southee dropped five spots to 13th.

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