Harry Brook BEATS Yashasvi Jaiswal in latest ICC Test rankings after brilliant ton against New Zealand

New Delhi: Harry Brook, England’s rising star, has cemented his place as one of the world’s top Test batters. He has moved up to second in the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings following a brilliant 171-run performance in England’s dominant eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Christchurch. This remarkable knock propelled Brook two places higher in the rankings, pushing him ahead of India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, who slipped to fourth just days after reaching his career-best position. Brook now has 854 rating points, while New Zealand’s Kane Williamson remains in third with consistent fifties in the same Test. Jaiswal, with 825 points, will be looking to reclaim his spot as the second Test against Australia approaches.

Harry Brook’s career-high ranking now places him just 41 points behind his teammate and former England captain, Joe Root, who remains in the top spot despite an unusual failure in the same Test. Root’s dismissal for a duck—his first in more than two years—marked an unexpected dip in his typically reliable form. Brook’s swift ascent in the rankings highlights his impressive consistency and composure under pressure, positioning him as Root’s nearest challenger for the title of the world’s top Test batter.

While Harry Brook dominated the headlines, England’s Ollie Pope and captain Ben Stokes also made significant gains in the rankings. Pope surged eight places to 32nd, while Stokes climbed seven spots to 34th, a testament to their crucial roles in England’s commanding victory.

The Test rankings experienced significant changes after the South Africa-Sri Lanka match in Durban. Kamindu Mendis and South African captain Temba Bavuma reached career-best ratings, with Mendis climbing to seventh and Bavuma breaking into the top 10 following his impressive scores of 70 and 113.

The bowlers’ and all-rounders’ rankings also saw significant shifts, with South Africa’s Marco Jansen making a major impact. Jansen’s match-winning performance, including a stunning 7/13 spell and an 11-wicket haul, propelled him to a career-high ninth place among bowlers and boosted him to second in the all-rounders’ rankings, just behind India’s Ravindra Jadeja.

England’s Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir also made significant gains in the rankings following their performances against New Zealand, while Sri Lanka’s Vishwa Fernando saw a rise of four spots, reaching 29th place.