JOE ROOT RECLAIMS NO 1 SPOT IN ICC TEST BATTING RANKINGS AFTER THE EX-ENGLAND CAPTAIN'S RICH RUN OF FORM IN DOMINANT 3-0 SERIES WIN OVER WEST INDIES
- Joe Root returns to ICC's Test cricket batting rankings top spot for the ninth time
- England's former captain surpasses the legendary Brian Lara's career run tally
Joe Root’s rich form against West Indies has coincided with a rise to number one in Test cricket’s batting rankings.
Former England captain Root struck 87 in the 10-wicket win at Edgbaston, an innings that took him beyond both Windies great Brian Lara’s career tally of runs and the 12,000 mark in Tests, and also above Kane Williamson at the top of the International Cricket Council’s ratings.
The 33-year-old has now reached the summit of Test batting on nine occasions stretching back to 2015 when his contributions in the middle were integral to England winning back the Ashes.
His most recent stint also came following a match in Birmingham – last year’s dramatic two-wicket loss to the Australians.
However, following a single-figure score, Root’s Yorkshire team-mate Harry Brook has sunk to seventh from his previous position of third.
Mark Wood, whose match figures of seven for 92 earned him the man-of-the-match award last week, has entered the top 20 amongst bowlers for the first time in his career.
Wood sits a place behind Chris Woakes and six off Ollie Robinson in 14th – still England’s top-ranked bowler despite being completely overlooked since returning from the new year tour to India.
Read more 2024-07-31T16:29:33Z