ICC Test Rankings: Labuschagne overtakes Root to grab No.1 Spot

The ICC on Wednesday released the latest update in the Test Rankings & Marnus Labuschagne’s blistering 398 run-knock in the first Test against West Indies helped him to grab the top spot in the Test Rankings replacing Joe Root. Labuschagne’s 204 & unbeaten 104 in the Perth Test helped him to become the eighth player in the history of Test cricket to record a double-ton in a single Test.

The knocks provided him with 50 rating points which thereby helped him to regain the top position at the Test Rankings Table for the first time since June 2022. This blistering knock helped him to move up to 935 rating points which are just one behind his previous-best score of 936. If he continued the same onslaught in the second Test beginning tomorrow then he would be able to surpass the likes of Virat Kohli & VIV Richards who have the highest rating points of 937 & 938.

Coming to Joe Root who was the predecessor of NO 1 Position couldn’t retain his top position after poor scores of 23 & 73 in the highest-scoring Rawalpindi Test. He not only lost his top position but has also dropped down by three places to grab the fourth position on the list. On the other hand, Smith & Babar Azam are the holders of the second & third positions on the list.

The duo has produced spell-bounding knocks to grab second & third positions on the list. Smith amassed an unbeaten 200 & 20 while Babar scored 136 & 4 in the Rawalpindi Test. West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite & Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique are the other batters who made positive gains in the Rankings list. Brathwaite moved up in the top 20 list with his knocks of 64 & 110 against Australia while Shafique moved up by five places to 15^th position on the back of 114 & 6 runs scored against England in the Rawalpindi Test.

ICC Test Rankings for Bowlers

In the ICC Test Rankings for bowlers, James Anderson & Ollie Pope are the major gainers in the list. James Anderson who scalped five wickets on a flat Rawalpindi pitch broke into the top three. While Ollie Robinson who won the Player of the Match award for his five wicket-haul & contributions with the bat has moved up by seven positions to enter the top 10 list by grabbing the eighth position.

Pat Cummins continues to rule the bowlers charts but his absence in the Adelaide Pink Ball Test due to a quad strain could cost him his top position.