England’s Harry Brook has reclaimed the No. 1 position in the ICC Test batting rankings, overtaking teammate Joe Root, while India captain Shubman Gill moved up two places to eighth after his century against Afghanistan.
Brook returned to the top after scoring 56 in England’s 115-run win over New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship match at Lord’s. The knock, one of only two half-centuries in the match, helped him leapfrog Root, who managed scores of one and eight and slipped to third in the rankings. Australia’s Travis Head moved up to second place.
Brook had first reached the top of the Test batting rankings in December 2024 and will head into the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval on June 17 as the world’s highest-ranked batter.
Gill climbed to eighth after scoring 126 in India’s innings-and-300-run victory over Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.
Among other movers in the batting rankings, England’s Ben Duckett rose three places to 15th, Jamie Smith jumped five spots to joint 23rd, while New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips gained 15 places to reach 40th.
In the bowling rankings, England pacer Gus Atkinson broke into the top 10, climbing seven places to 10th. He also moved up to sixth among Test all-rounders. New Zealand fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Nathan Smith made notable gains, with Jamieson re-entering the rankings at 22nd and Smith jumping 16 places to 43rd. England’s Ollie Robinson also returned to the rankings at 23rd.
In ODI cricket, Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed rose two places to second among bowlers after taking six wickets in the series win over Australia. Teammate Shaheen Afridi climbed four places to ninth after claiming seven wickets.
Australia’s Nathan Ellis improved 13 spots to 31st, while Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana surged 23 places to 24th.
Among ODI batters, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis climbed to 12th and Janith Liyanage moved up to 22nd. Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan also made progress, rising seven places to 33rd in the rankings.
-IANS
