New No 1 Test Batsman Announced In Latest ICC Test Batters Rankings: Kane Williamson has regained the number 1 ICC Test batter ranking following the slip-ups by Joe Root, which has seen him fall from the numero uno spot to number 5. The Australian trio of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head occupy the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th spots respectively.
Although Joe Root his 118* in the first Ashes 2023 Test, in his next three innings, he managed scores of 46, 10, and 18, which meant that was a drop in his rating points.
Kane Williamson, who is currently nursing a leg injury and had hit a double hundred and two centuries in his last Test series against New Zealand in February-March, attained the number 1 Test batsman ranking for the sixth time in his career and was last at the top in August 2021.
Steve Smith likely to overtake Kane Williamson soon at number 1 ICC Test batters rankings
However, Williamson is likely to lose this ranking soon as Steve Smith, Labuschagne and Head are closing in on him. Williamson has 883 rating points, while Steve Smith, who has hit two centuries in his last three Tests in England – one in WTC Final and another at Lord’s – has 882 rating points. With three more Tests to go in the Ashes and Smith showing great form, it is only a matter of time that he become the number 1 Test batsman once again.
Labuschagne, the former number 1 Test batsman lost his spot at the top as he’s yet to hit a fifty on this England tour, with a highest score of 47 in 6 innings. Head is having a brilliant run. Man of the Match in the WTC Final, Head cracked two fifties in two games in the Ashes so far.
Babar Azam is at the 6th spot, followed by Usman Khawaja, Daryl Mitchell, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Rishabh Pant. Pant, who last played Test cricket in December last year, is the only Indian in the top 10 ICC Test batters ranking.
Speaking of Indians, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have successfully retained their number 1 Test bowler ranking and number 1 Test all-rounder ranking respectively.
