Harry Brook has shuffled ahead of Joe Root to the top of the ICC Test batting rankings, the Yorkshire pair now book-ending Travis Head, who sits second. It is Brook’s first stint at No.1 since early 2024 and comes on the back of a measured 56 in England’s low-scoring win over New Zealand at Lord’s.
“I’m pleased, of course,” Brook said after the update. “But, honestly, the only thing that truly matters is us getting over the line in matches.”
Root, who managed scores of 1 and 8 in that same Test, slipped two rungs to third. England batting coach Marcus Trescothick put the drop in perspective. “Joe’s form never worries me for long. He’s still batting beautifully in the nets, and rankings can swing in a week.”
India’s Shubman Gill jumped to No. 8 following a crisp 126 against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh—India’s heaviest Test victory by an innings and 300 runs. Former India opener Aakash Chopra called it “the sort of knock that stops any talk about Gill’s preferred position”.
On the bowling side of the ledger, Gus Atkinson’s seven wickets at Lord’s, including a second-innings five-for, nudged him seven places to No. 10. Skipper Ben Stokes praised the Surrey quick: “He bowls heavy balls, simple as that.”
Atkinson’s 18 runs in the match, barely a footnote at the time, were still enough to move him to sixth in the Test all-rounders list.
Across in ODIs, Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed climbed to second after six wickets against Australia, while left-armer Shaheen Afridi broke into the top ten with seven strikes in three outings. Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten felt the pair “complement each other—one squeezes, the other attacks.”
Bangladesh’s Nahid Rana was another mover, leaping 23 spots to 24th thanks to four wickets in the Mirpur series opener versus Australia. Tigers captain Najmul Hossain Shanto simply said, “He bowled like the breeze was behind him all day.”
Plenty of shuffling, then, with the next round of Tests—England in Wellington and India in Melbourne—set to test the new pecking order soon enough.
