Joe Root
Joe Root. (Photo: AFP)

Following the most recent update of the MRF Tyres ICC Test batting rankings, the competition for prestige among the top five batters in the world has become even more intense.

Joe Root, the reigning ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, has risen two places to second place behind Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne in the latest rankings.

Root’s meteoric rise follows his match-winning century in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, an innings in which he became the second Englishman and 14th player in history to reach 10,000 Test runs.

Joe Root
Joe Root. Image Credits: Twitter

Other Movements In The ICC Rankings

The 31-year-old has closed the gap on Labuschagne to ten points and might tighten it even further when the second Test between England and New Zealand begins in Nottingham on Friday.

Root’s surge has resulted in a minor reshuffle within the top five, with Australia’s Steve Smith dropping one spot to third in the most recent rankings.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam moves up to the fourth place, but New Zealand captain Kane Williamson dips two places to fifth after scoring just two and 15 at Lord’s.

The newest Test bowling rankings have also changed, with towering New Zealand paceman Kyle Jamieson being the greatest mover following his six wickets in the match against England.

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Kyle Jamieson
Kyle Jamieson (Image Credit: Twitter)

Jamieson moves up two spots to third, while India’s Jasprit Bumrah (fourth) and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi (fifth) both drop one spot.

With 901 rankings points, Australia captain Pat Cummins remains the top-ranked bowler, 51 points ahead of veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 850 points.

In the current rankings update, Ashwin stays second behind teammate Ravindra Jadeja in the all-rounder rankings, with Jamieson sliding one spot to eight. Jamieson too can improve his ranking if he does well in the 2nd test against England.

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