Joe Root reclaims No. 1 spot as Matt Henry draws level with Jasprit Bumrah in ICC Test Rankings

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The latest ICC rankings update has brought significant changes across both Test and ODI cricket, with several top performers being rewarded for their recent exploits on the international stage. England batter Joe Root has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Test batting rankings, while New Zealand pacer Matt Henry has risen to the summit of the Test bowling charts alongside India’s Jasprit Bumrah. Meanwhile, India captain Shubman Gill and several other players have also made notable gains in the ODI rankings following impressive performances in recent series.

Root has climbed back to the top of the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings following an impressive performance in the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. While England suffered a heavy 253-run defeat that allowed Black Caps to level the ICC World Test Championship series 1-1, Root’s scores of 46 and 77 were enough to propel him back to the No. 1 position.

The latest rankings update marks the 12th time in Root’s illustrious career that he has occupied the top spot among Test batters. His rise sees him move ahead of England teammate Harry Brook and Australia’s Travis Head, who had previously been among the frontrunners in the rankings.

The battle for the No. 1 batting position has largely been dominated by the Yorkshire duo of Root and Brook over the last 18 months. The pair have exchanged the top ranking six times since Root first overtook New Zealand great Kane Williamson, continuing a fascinating rivalry between two of England’s most accomplished modern batters.

While Root’s return to the summit grabbed attention, New Zealand fast bowler Henry also achieved a significant milestone. Henry’s outstanding match figures of 11 wickets for 109 runs at The Oval helped him climb to the top of the ICC Test Bowling Rankings, where he now shares the No. 1 spot with India pace spearhead Bumrah.

Both bowlers are now tied on 870 rating points, underlining Henry’s remarkable rise in red-ball cricket. The achievement is particularly notable given New Zealand’s rich history of pace bowling. Only legendary fast bowler Richard Hadlee has achieved a higher rating among New Zealand bowlers, reaching 909 points in 1985.

Henry’s current tally also places him among the most highly rated Test cricketers in New Zealand history. Across both batting and bowling disciplines, only Williamson’s peak rating of 919 in 2021 and Hadlee’s 909 have surpassed Henry’s current mark of 870. Bumrah, meanwhile, had held the No. 1 bowling ranking outright since November 2024 after moving ahead of South Africa quick Kagiso Rabada.

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Several players enjoyed significant jumps in the latest rankings update. New Zealand’s centurions Glenn Phillips and Henry Nicholls were among the biggest beneficiaries. Phillips moved up eight places to 31st in the Test batting rankings, while Nicholls surged 13 spots to reach 40th. Fellow Kiwi Rachin Ravindra also returned to the top 10 following his consistent performances.

England’s bowling rankings also saw movement, with Jofra Archer rising six places to 50th and young all-rounder Jacob Bethell climbing 29 spots to 85th.

In ODI cricket, India captain Shubman Gill continued his upward trajectory by moving to second place in the batting rankings after a stellar series against Afghanistan. Gill amassed 238 runs in the three-match series and was named Player of the Series as India completed a dominant 3-0 sweep.

India also saw gains from Ishan Kishan, who climbed 21 places to 43rd, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who jumped 84 positions to 71st. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi rose four places to 52nd.

Among ODI bowlers, India’s Prasidh Krishna surged from 92nd to joint-58th after his five-wicket haul in the final ODI, while Arshdeep Singh climbed 16 places to 22nd following a successful series. Afghanistan spinner Allah Ghazanfar also improved his standing, moving up three places to 71st.

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