LONDON: England’s Harry Brook has made significant gains in the ICC Test batsmen rankings, reaching a career-high third place, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam has dropped one spot amidst shifts following England’s commanding performance in the second Test against the West Indies.
England’s 241-run victory at Trent Bridge not only secured a series win but also propelled several of their key players up the rankings ladder.
Leading the charge is veteran batsman Joe Root, whose 32nd Test century earned him 12 additional rating points. Root’s stellar performance narrowed the gap with current top-ranked Test batter Kane Williamson of New Zealand, placing him just seven points behind. Another strong showing in the upcoming third Test in Birmingham could potentially see Root reclaim the coveted number-one position.
Meanwhile, Harry Brook’s ascent to third place marks a career-best achievement for the English batter. His standout century in the second innings at Nottingham propelled him past formidable names such as Babar Azam, Daryl Mitchell, Steve Smith, and Rohit Sharma in the ICC Test batsmen rankings.
England’s Ben Duckett also enjoyed a rankings boost, climbing six places to 16th, while Ollie Pope surged eight spots to 21st after consistent performances in the recent Test.
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For the West Indies, Kraigg Brathwaite moved up two places to 40th in the Test batsmen rankings, Joshua Da Silva gained seven spots to 61st, and Kavem Hodge made a significant leap of 21 places to 75th.
In the ICC Test bowler rankings, England’s Chris Woakes re-entered the top 20 for the first time since September 2021, rising four places following his impactful six-wicket haul against the West Indies. Young spinner Shoaib Bashir also saw a notable improvement, moving up 18 places to 53rd after his five-wicket haul in the second innings of the Nottingham Test.
Among the West Indies bowlers, Jayden Seales climbed 10 places to 34th after his impressive performance, which included six wickets in the same match.
