Harry Brook Ascends to Top of Test Rankings, Ousting Joe Root

DUBAI: Following his record-setting unbeaten innings of 367 against Zimbabwe in the second Test, South Africa’s interim skipper, Wiaan Mulder, has significantly climbed in the latest ICC Test Batters Rankings.

The remarkable performance has elevated him 34 positions to 22nd place with 669 rating points, surpassing former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who has now descended to 23rd with 651 points.

Among Pakistani batsmen, Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has declined two positions to 13th, while wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan also slipped to 21st with 671 points.

T20I captain Salman Ali Agha moved down one spot to 34th, and Test skipper Shan Masood decreased four places to 48th.

Opening batsman Abdullah Shafique has descended to 52nd, while Kamran Ghulam maintained his 76th position. Meanwhile, Saim Ayub has slightly dropped one spot to 84th.

The most recent rankings update also presents a shift at the summit, with England’s Harry Brook seizing the number one Test batsman position, displacing Joe Root, who now occupies second place.

Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson continues to hold third position.

In the Test bowling rankings, Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi each progressed one place to 19th and 20th, respectively. Noman Ali retained his fifth position with 806 points.

Among other Pakistani bowlers, Mohammad Abbas slipped one place to 27th, Naseem Shah remained at 35th, and Abrar Ahmed dropped two spots to 50th.

Khurram Shahzad decreased two places to 64th, Aamer Jamal remained at 71st, Mir Hamza at 93rd, and Zahid Mahmood at 97th.

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah remains the leading Test bowler, followed by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada in second and Australian captain Pat Cummins in third.