Joe Root Reclaims Top Spot, Babar Azam Maintains Third Position in ICC Test Rankings

LONDON: England’s Joe Root has reclaimed the No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings following a standout series against the West Indies. Root’s impressive performance, including 291 runs over three matches and an innings of 87 in the final Test, has propelled him past New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, who drops to second place.

Joe Root Reclaims Top Spot and Hits Career Milestones

Joe Root recent success marks his return to the top spot he held from August 2015 until last year, and adds to his career achievements, including his 32nd Test century and a rise to seventh on the all-time Test run-scorer list.

The rankings have also seen notable changes for other players. Pakistan’s Babar Azam and New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell now share the third position. Australia’s Steve Smith and India’s Rohit Sharma are ranked fifth and sixth, while England’s Harry Brook has fallen to seventh.

In the Test bowler rankings, England captain Ben Stokes has risen to 30th, with Mark Wood moving up to 20th and Gus Atkinson climbing to 46th. The West Indies’ Jayden Seales has also made significant progress, reaching a career-high joint 26th position.

In the Test all-rounder rankings, England’s Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes have moved up to sixth and ninth respectively, while India’s Ravindra Jadeja remains at the top.

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In T20I rankings, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have made notable gains. Moreover, Jaiswal is now fourth, and Gill has climbed to 21st. Former top-ranked spinner Ravi Bishnoi has re-entered the T20I top 10. Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana has jumped 13 places to 77th.

Australia’s Marcus Stoinis has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the T20I all-rounder rankings, replacing Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, who drops to equal third. Stoinis’ return to the top highlights his continued impact in T20 cricket despite Australia’s recent absence from the format.