December 11, 2024: In a thrilling development on Wednesday, Harry Brook surged past Joe Root to claim the coveted No. 1 spot in the latest ICC Men’s Test Batter Rankings. The shift marks a changing of the guard at the top of the rankings, as Brook’s stellar performance in the recent Test series against New Zealand sees him eclipse Root, who had been the top-ranked batter for several months.
Brook’s remarkable climb to the top comes after his brilliant performance in the second Test against New Zealand at Wellington, where he scored 123 and 55 in England’s dominant 323-run victory. These innings helped him secure 898 rating points, just one ahead of Root, who now has 897 points.
This milestone sees Harry Brook join an elite list of greats, including India’s legendary Sachin Tendulkar, with the 34th highest rating of all time for Test batters. The 25-year-old’s rise marks a significant moment in his career, considering his recent transition from a rising star to the top-ranked player in world cricket.
Though Joe Root has been dethroned from the top spot, the England star has been a dominant force in international cricket for years. Root held the top position since July this year, after overtaking New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, and has occupied the No. 1 spot a total of nine times during his illustrious career.
Following the second Test against New Zealand, Root was quick to acknowledge Brook’s rise to the top, with the two players swapping positions in the latest ICC rankings. Root’s words were prophetic, as Brook’s ascension confirmed his status as the new No. 1 Test batter in the world.
The latest update also saw several other players making notable gains. Australia’s Travis Head moved up six spots to 5th place, while South Africa’s Temba Bavuma jumped three positions to 7th.
Former No. 1 ranked batter Marnus Labuschagne also saw a rise, improving three places to move up to 13th in the rankings. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal climbed two spots to 15th, and South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne made an impressive 15-place leap to 23rd.
On the bowling side, Jasprit Bumrah of India continues to hold his spot at the top of the Test bowler rankings, but Pat Cummins (Australia) and Matt Henry (New Zealand) are closing in, with both players climbing one spot to 4th and 9th, respectively.
India’s Ravindra Jadeja Maintains No. 1 Spot Among All-rounders
India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja continues to dominate the Test all-rounder rankings, maintaining his position at No. 1. Mehidy Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh has moved up two places to second after a strong series against the West Indies.
ODI and T20I Rankings Updates
In the ODI rankings, Shai Hope of the West Indies improved one spot to 8th among batters, while teammate Gudakesh Motie moved up four places to 9th among bowlers after a strong showing in the ongoing series against Bangladesh.
In the T20I rankings, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan jumped two places to 6th among batters, and Shaheen Afridi made an impressive rise, climbing six spots to 20th in the bowlers’ rankings.
The latest rankings reflect a dynamic phase in international cricket, with new stars like Harry Brook emerging at the top and established players continuing to shape the game. Brook’s rise is a testament to his exceptional talent, and his future in Test cricket looks incredibly promising as he now holds the No. 1 spot in the world.
