There have been major changes in ICC test rankings as the teams are playing major matches in the WTC. England recently had a 3-0 clean sweep over the Windies side, and Joe Root recently completed 12,000 test runs in the format.
With this major feat, Joe Root went on to be the seventh-highest scorer among run-getters in the longest format of the game. In achieving this miraculous feat, he went past the legendary Brian Lara, who is considered the maestro of the format.
Only the likes of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (India), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Rahul Dravid (India), Alastair Cook (England), and Kumara Sangakara (Sri Lanka) are now above the veteran English batter. He has left his competitors among modern-day cricketers far behind in the format, as Steven Smith is the next highest run-getter among active cricketers behind him with 9685 runs.
The one who brought Bazball to English tests, Brendon McCullum, was also surpassed by English skipper Ben Stokes in the series. With this great achievement, Root reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test Rankings as he sneaked past Kane Williamson.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, and Australian Steven Smith follow him next, as Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, holds the highest spot among Indian batters in Test rankings. The opening batter holds the 6th position with 751 points, best among Indian players.
Adding to the surprise, the next batter on the list is India’s least experienced youngster, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who follows his skipper on the list with 740 points, placed at no. 8 above the likes of veteran batter Virat Kohli, who placed 10th with 737 points.
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Some changes also took place in the T20I rankings, as Wanindu Hasaranga lost his top spot after a disappointing series against India, while Marcus Stoinis, Sikander Raza, and Shakib Al Hasan gained a promotion to acquire the top 3 spots.
Also, Rashid Khan, who recently struck 600 T20 wickets, went past Hasaranga in the bowling rankings for the No. 3 spot. Indian bowler Ravi Bishnoi, who once also held the top spot in ICC rankings, made his way back into the top 10, while T20 World Cup hero Arshdeep Singh entered the top 20 among internationally ranked T20I bowlers.
