In the latest update of the ICC Men’s Test Batting Ranking, Joe Root has dethroned Marnus Labuschagne to secure the No.1 position following an outstanding performance in the first Ashes Test match of 2023. Root’s remarkable display in the match, held at Edgbaston, showcased his batting prowess as he scored a century in the first innings with 118 runs and contributed 46 runs in the second innings. This exceptional performance has propelled him to the top spot in the ICC Test Batting Ranking.
Root’s proficiency is not limited to his batting skills alone. He also showcased his versatility by taking a wicket, which has earned him the sixth position in the ICC Test All-rounders Ranking.
Labuschagne, who had held the top spot for the past six months, faltered during the Ashes series and failed to deliver notable performances. Scoring 0 and 13 runs in the first Test match, his struggles extended to the WTC Final 2023 against India, where he managed scores of 26 and 41 runs.
The dominance of Australian batters in the ICC Test Batting Ranking has taken a hit with this update. Labuschagne has now slipped to the third position, while Steve Smith and Travis Head have dropped to fourth and sixth positions, respectively.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have retained their top spots in the ICC Test Bowling and All-rounders Ranking, respectively.
Labuschagne’s earlier tremendous form had propelled him to the top position, but his recent struggles have resulted in him slipping to third place. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s captain, Kane Williamson, has moved up to the second position in the ICC Test Batting Ranking. Unfortunately, Williamson is currently recuperating from a knee injury and is expected to be out of cricket for the next four to five months.
ICC Men’s Test Batting Ranking:
| POSITION | PLAYER | TEAM | RATING |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Root | ENG | 887 |
| 2 | Kane Williamson | NZ | 883 |
| 3 | Marnus Labuschagne | AUS | 877 |
| 4 | Travis Head | AUS | 873 |
| 5 | Babar Azam | PAK | 862 |
| 6 | Steve Smith | AUS | 861 |
| 7 | Usman Khawaja | AUS | 836 |
| 8 | Daryl Mitchell | NZ | 792 |
| 9 | Dimuth Karunaratne | SL | 780 |
| 10 | Rishabh Pant | IND | 758 |
Note: The rankings are subject to change as players’ performances continue to evolve.