LONDON: England batter Harry Brook has returned to the summit of the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings, reclaiming the No. 1 position following another influential performance in England’s World Test Championship campaign against New Zealand.
Brook’s rise comes after a crucial half-century in the first innings of the opening Test at Lord’s, a match dominated by bowlers and ultimately won by England by 115 runs. The innings helped the 26-year-old edge past teammate Joe Root and regain the top ranking he previously held in late 2024.
Root Drops, Head Climbs
Former No. 1 batter Joe Root slipped down the standings after a rare off-match with the bat. The England veteran managed scores of just one and eight in the two innings, allowing Brook to move back to the top of the rankings.
Australia’s Travis Head benefited from recent performances to climb into second place, while Root now occupies third position. The battle for ranking supremacy is expected to intensify when England and New Zealand meet again in the second Test at The Oval on June 17.
Gill Continues Upward Rise
India’s Shubman Gill was among the notable movers in the latest rankings update. The stylish right-hander moved up two places to eighth position after scoring a commanding century in India’s recent Test outing against Afghanistan.
England opener Ben Duckett also made gains, rising three spots to 15th, while teammate Jamie Smith continued his impressive progress by jumping five places to 23rd.
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips enjoyed one of the biggest rises among batters, climbing 15 places to break into the top 40 following his contributions at Lord’s.
Atkinson Breaks into Top 10 Bowlers
England fast bowler Gus Atkinson was rewarded for his recent performances with a significant jump in the Test bowling rankings. The pace spearhead moved up seven places to enter the top 10 for the first time, reaching 10th position overall.
Atkinson also strengthened his standing in the all-rounders’ rankings, advancing two spots to sixth place.
New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson and England seamer Ollie Robinson returned to the rankings after extended periods away from Test cricket. Jamieson is now ranked 22nd, while Robinson occupies the 23rd spot.
Another New Zealand bowler, Nathan Smith, made substantial progress, climbing 16 positions to 43rd in the latest bowling chart.
Pakistan Players Shine in ODI Rankings
The latest ODI rankings also reflected Pakistan’s successful series against Australia.
Spinner Abrar Ahmed emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries after claiming six wickets during the series, helping him rise to second place among ODI bowlers.
Fellow Pakistan star Shaheen Shah Afridi moved up four positions to ninth after taking seven wickets across the campaign.
Australia’s Nathan Ellis climbed 13 places to reach 31st, while Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana surged 23 spots to move into 24th position following an impressive run of performances.
Batters on the Move
Among ODI batters, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis continued his steady ascent and now sits 12th in the world rankings. Teammate Janith Liyanage also gained ground, climbing to 22nd place.
Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan was another notable mover, advancing to 33rd position after a string of productive innings.
With international cricket producing strong performances across formats, the latest ICC rankings underline the intense competition among the world’s leading players. As major series continue through the season, further changes at the top of the rankings appear inevitable.
