England’s star batsman Joe Root is back as the No. 1 Test batsman in the latest ICC Test rankings, proving once again why he’s one of the best in the world.
His brilliant century (104 runs) and a solid 40 in the third Test against India at Lord’s helped England win by 22 runs and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
This isn’t the first time Joe Root has been at the top—it’s actually his eighth time reaching the No. 1 spot in ICC rankings.
At 34 years old, he’s the oldest batsman to hold the top position since Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in 2014.
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How Joe Root Regained the No. 1 Spot in ICC Rankings
Just a week ago, Joe Root lost his top ranking to his fellow England teammate Harry Brook.
But with his match-winning performance at Lord’s, he quickly climbed back to the No. 1 position in the ICC Test batting rankings.
Here’s how the top five batsmen in the ICC rankings changed after the Lord’s Test:
- Joe Root (England) – Back at No. 1
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – Moved up to second
- Harry Brook (England) – Dropped to third
- Steve Smith (Australia) – Jumped past Yashasvi Jaiswal to fourth
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (India) – Slipped to fifth
Other Big Movers in the Batting Rankings
- Cameron Green (Australia) – Scored 46 and 42, moving up 16 places to joint-29th.
- Ravindra Jadeja (India) – His fighting **61* and 72** helped him rise 5 spots to 34th.
- KL Rahul (India) – Gained 5 places to 35th after scores of 100 and 39.
- Shubman Gill (India) – Dropped 3 places to 9th.
- Ben Stokes (England) – His 77 runs and 5 wickets lifted him 2 spots in batting (42nd) and 1 spot in bowling (45th).
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Australia Dominates Bowling Rankings
While Joe Root is making headlines in batting, Australia’s bowlers are ruling the ICC Test bowling rankings.
Scott Boland had a fantastic match, taking 3 wickets in each innings, including a hat-trick, which pushed him 6 places up to a career-best 6th position.
Now, five Australian bowlers are in the top 10:
- Pat Cummins
- Josh Hazlewood
- Nathan Lyon
- Mitchell Starc
- Scott Boland
This is the first time since 1958 that one team has had so many bowlers dominating the rankings.
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India’s Bowling Updates
- Jasprit Bumrah remains the No. 1 Test bowler, keeping a 50-point lead over South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada.
- Washington Sundar jumped 12 places to 46th after taking 4 wickets in the second innings.
West Indies Bowlers Shine
The West Indies had a tough time in their Test against Australia, getting bowled out for just 27 runs in the second innings—the second-lowest score ever in Test history.
But their bowlers still made an impact in the ICC rankings:
- Shamar Joseph – Took 8 wickets, reached a career-best 14th position.
- Alzarri Joseph – Moved 2 spots up to 29th.
- Justin Greaves – Jumped 15 places to 65th.
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T20I Rankings – New Rising Stars
While Joe Root and Test cricket are stealing the show, some players are making moves in T20Is:
- Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) – Up 3 places to 15th in batting.
- Parvez Hossain Emon (Bangladesh) – Gained 12 spots to 85th.
- Nuwan Thushara (Sri Lanka) – Rose 9 places to 16th in bowling.
- Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh) – Climbed 12 spots to 17th.
Why Joe Root’s Comeback Matters
Joe Root’s return to No. 1 in the ICC rankings shows his consistency and class.
Even at 34, he’s competing with younger players like Harry Brook and Yashasvi Jaiswal, proving that experience matters in Test cricket.
His ability to perform under pressure—like his century at Lord’s—keeps England in strong positions.
With the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) in full swing, Joe Root’s form will be crucial for England’s success.
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Final Thoughts
- Joe Root is back as the No. 1 Test batsman in the ICC rankings.
- His century at Lord’s was key in England’s win over India.
- Australia now has five bowlers in the top 10—a rare dominance.
- Players like Shamar Joseph and Washington Sundar are rising in rankings.
- T20I rankings also saw some big movers like Kusal Mendis and Nuwan Thushara.
With so much action in cricket right now, the ICC rankings are changing fast.
But one thing is clear—Joe Root is still one of the best in the world, and his fight for the top spot in the ICC rankings is far from over!