Harry Brook reclaims top spot in ICC Test batting rankings as Shubman Gill rises to become India's No.1
England's Harry Brook has returned to the summit of the ICC Men's Test batting rankings following his half-century in the win over New Zealand at Lord's, overtaking teammate Joe Root. India captain Shubman Gill also climbed two places to eighth on the back of his century against Afghanistan, becoming India's highest-ranked Test batter.
There has been a notable shake-up at the top of the ICC Men's Test batting rankings, with England's Harry Brook reclaiming the world number one position. The latest update followed a busy run of Test cricket across multiple series.
Brook's return to the summit came at the expense of his England teammate Joe Root, who slipped down the order after a quiet outing at Lord's.
India captain Shubman Gill was among the other big movers, climbing the charts to reaffirm his status as his country's leading Test batter.
Brook Back on Top
Harry Brook has returned to the No. 1 ranking among Test batters, a position he last held in late 2024.
The England vice-captain reached 869 rating points to move clear of his nearest challengers.
His rise was sparked by a valuable half-century of 56 in testing batting conditions during England's victory over New Zealand at Lord's.
Root Slips Down the Order
The flip side of Brook's ascent was a difficult update for Joe Root.
The veteran managed scores of just one and eight in the low-scoring Lord's Test, costing him valuable points.
As a result, his rating fell from 880 to 851, and he dropped from first to third in the standings.
Head Climbs to Second
Australia's Travis Head was another to benefit from the reshuffle at the top.
The hard-hitting left-hander moved up to second place in the rankings.
His climb was notable given that he had not featured in Test cricket in the most recent window.
The New Test Batting Top Order
The latest update produced a fresh-looking leaderboard among the world's leading Test batters.
- Harry Brook (England)
- Travis Head (Australia)
- Joe Root (England)
- Steve Smith (Australia)
- Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
- Temba Bavuma (South Africa)
- Shubman Gill (India)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
- Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka)
Gill Leads India's Charge
For Indian supporters, the headline act was the continued climb of captain Shubman Gill.
He rose two places to eighth in the world after a commanding century against Afghanistan in the one-off Test.
The knock of 126, scored during India's record-breaking innings-and-300-run victory, confirmed Gill as India's highest-ranked Test batter.
Jaiswal and Other Indian Interest
Gill's rise saw him move ahead of opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, who slipped to ninth.
Elsewhere, Kane Williamson dropped a place following twin failures at Lord's.
Among the climbers, England pair Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith both made gains, as did New Zealand's Glenn Phillips after a useful showing.
Atkinson Breaks Into the Bowling Top 10
There was also significant movement in the bowling rankings.
England seamer Gus Atkinson surged seven places to enter the top ten after a haul of seven wickets in the Lord's Test.
His all-round contribution also lifted him up the rankings for Test all-rounders.
Henry Slips After Lord's
Not every bowler enjoyed the update, however.
New Zealand's Matt Henry, hampered by injury, managed only three wickets on a seamer-friendly surface.
That return saw him slide down to seventh place among the leading Test bowlers.
Pakistan's Bowlers Make ODI Gains
The rankings movement was not confined to the Test arena.
In the one-day bowling charts, Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed climbed to second following his country's success against Australia.
Compatriot Shaheen Afridi also forced his way back into the top ten, underlining Pakistan's strong recent showing.
A Bowler's Match at Lord's
Much of the shake-up could be traced back to the nature of the contest at Lord's.
The match, staged at the famous venue, was heavily dominated by the bowlers, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals.
Those demanding batting conditions made standout contributions all the more valuable in the eyes of the rankings.
The Race for No. 1 Continues
With more Test cricket on the immediate horizon, the battle for top spot is far from settled.
The second Test between England and New Zealand gets under way at The Oval on June 17.
That fixture, and those to follow, could yet trigger further changes at the top of the standings.
Key Ranking Movers
- New No. 1 Batter: Harry Brook, on 869 points
- Biggest Faller at the Top: Joe Root, down to third
- Risen to Second: Travis Head
- India's Leading Batter: Shubman Gill, up to eighth
- New Bowling Top-10 Entry: Gus Atkinson
- ODI Climbers: Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Afridi
Final Word
The latest rankings update reflects just how quickly fortunes can shift in international cricket.
Harry Brook's return to the top and Shubman Gill's steady climb were the standout stories of an eventful refresh.
With a packed calendar ahead, the leading players will know that maintaining their positions will be every bit as challenging as earning them.