Joe Root has reclaimed the No.1 spot in the ICC Test batting rankings after a stellar performance against India at Lord’s, while Scott Boland’s sensational hat-trick against West Indies has powered him into the top 10 among bowlers.
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Joe Root Back on Top: England’s Rock Rises Again
Joe Root has once again climbed the summit of Test cricket, reclaiming the No.1 spot in the ICC men’s Test batting rankings following a commanding performance at Lord’s. The former England captain struck a magnificent 104 in the first innings and added 40 in the second as England edged out India in a gripping contest by 22 runs.
It was a vintage Root performance — calm, composed, and classy — reaffirming his place among the modern greats of the game. His innings proved crucial in setting a target that India couldn’t quite chase down, and the ICC rewarded him accordingly.
His rise, however, came at the expense of teammate Harry Brook, who had temporarily overtaken Root but failed to impress at Lord’s with scores of 11 and 23. Brook now slips to No.3, while Kane Williamson of New Zealand jumps to second, maintaining his own consistent legacy in red-ball cricket.
The India Slide: Gill, Pant Drop in Rankings
It was a mixed bag for the Indian camp. Shubman Gill, who has often been billed as India’s next batting superstar, endured a forgettable match with scores of 21 and 10. As a result, he dropped from No. 6 to No. 9 in the rankings.
Rishabh Pant, despite a gutsy 74 in the first innings, also dropped one place to No. 8, reflecting the competitive and volatile nature of the ICC charts.
On the bright side, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja had moments to cherish. Rahul’s gritty hundred and Jadeja’s twin fifties — including a dogged 61 not out — were bright sparks for India. The duo made significant upward moves, with Jadeja rising to No. 34 and Rahul to No. 35 in the batting charts.
Boland’s Brilliance: Hat-Trick Hero Soars
Over in Jamaica, Scott Boland lit up the Caribbean night with a sensational performance that saw him bag six wickets, including a second-innings hat-trick, as Australia dismantled the West Indies in a low-scoring pink-ball thriller.
Boland’s breathtaking spell catapulted him six spots up the bowling charts, landing him at No. 6 — his highest ever Test ranking. His rhythm, precision, and movement off the seam have made him a vital cog in Australia’s bowling arsenal.
Starc Surges, Smith Steady
Mitchell Starc continued his red-hot form with a fiery spell of 6 for 9, helping roll over the Windies for a paltry 27 runs. Although he remains No. 10 in the bowling charts, he’s climbed two spots in the Test allrounder rankings, now breathing down the neck of the top contenders, still led by Ravindra Jadeja.
Meanwhile, Steve Smith showed signs of finding rhythm with a valuable 48 in tough conditions and jumped above Yashasvi Jaiswal to fourth in the batting rankings. Jaiswal, who endured his worst Test performance against England with scores of 13 and 0, slipped a notch to fifth.
Top 10 ICC Test Batters (Men’s Rankings)
| Rank | Player | Country | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Root | England | 888 |
| 2 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 867 |
| 3 | Harry Brook | England | 862 |
| 4 | Steve Smith | Australia | 816 |
| 5 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | India | 801 |
| 6 | Temba Bavuma | South Africa | 790 |
| 7 | Kamindu Mendis | Sri Lanka | 781 |
| 8 | Rishabh Pant | India | 779 |
| 9 | Shubman Gill | India | 765 |
| 10 | Jamie Smith | England | 752 |
Top 10 ICC Test Bowlers (Men’s Rankings)
| Rank | Player | Country | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 901 |
| 2 | Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 851 |
| 3 | Pat Cummins | Australia | 838 |
| 4 | Josh Hazlewood | Australia | 815 |
| 5 | Noman Ali | Pakistan | 806 |
| 6 | Scott Boland | Australia | 784 |
| 7 | Matt Henry | New Zealand | 782 |
| 8 | Nathan Lyon | Australia | 769 |
| 9 | Marco Jansen | South Africa | 767 |
| 10 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 766 |
Top 10 ICC Test All-Rounders (Men’s Rankings)
| Rank | Player | Country | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | 409 |
| 2 | Mehidy Hasan | Bangladesh | 305 |
| 3 | Willem Mulder | South Africa | 284 |
| 4 | Pat Cummins | Australia | 270 |
| 5 | Marco Jansen | South Africa | 269 |
| 6 | Ben Stokes | England | 261 |
| 7 | Joe Root | England | 242 |
| 8 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 238 |
| 9 | Jason Holder | West Indies | 234 |
| 10 | Gus Atkinson | England | 231 |
FAQs
Why did Joe Root return to No.1 in the ICC Test batting rankings?
Joe Root reclaimed the top spot after scoring 104 and 40 in the Lord’s Test against India, overtaking Kane Williamson and Harry Brook to reach a rating of 888.
How did Scott Boland break into the top 10 Test bowlers?
Scott Boland climbed to No. 6 in the ICC Test bowling rankings with a rating of 784 after taking six wickets, including a second-innings hat-trick, against West Indies in Jamaica.
Who are the top-ranked Indian players across the latest Test rankings?
Jasprit Bumrah leads the bowling rankings at No.1 with a rating of 901.
Ravindra Jadeja tops the all-rounder rankings with 409 points.
Rishabh Pant (No.8) and Shubman Gill (No.9) are the highest-ranked Indian batters currently.
What are the major changes in the Test all-rounder rankings?
Ravindra Jadeja remains firmly at the top, while Joe Root and Mitchell Starc have both moved into the top 10, now ranked 7th and 8th respectively after impactful performances with bat and ball.
Which new names have emerged in the ICC Test rankings?
Among the standout inclusions:
Jamie Smith (England) has entered the top 10 batters at No.10.
Gus Atkinson (England) makes his debut in the top 10 Test all-rounders at No.10 with a rating of 231.
