Joe Root returns to the top of ICC Test rankings after six years

England captain Joe Root is the new World no.1 Test batsman after an update in the ICC Test rankings was made on Wednesday. Root has taken the summit position in the Test rankings after his sublime form in the ongoing Test series against India. The England skipper has scored 507 runs in three Test matches at a splendid average of 126.75, including three centuries.

Root had started the series at the fifth place in the rankings but his dream run has helped gain big in the rankings table. The right-hander has thus far played at the top of his game against India and leapfrogged New Zealand Kane Williamson from the numero uno position. Williamson is now placed in second place.

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has entered the top five rankings and he is the highest-ranked Indian in the batting rankings. The right-hander has thus far amassed 230 runs in three Test matches against England at an average of 46.

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli has now slipped to sixth place and he is out of the top five batsmen for the first time since 2016. Furthermore, Chesteshwar Pujara has gained three places to jump to 15th place in the rankings after scoring a fine knock of 91 runs in the second innings of the Leeds Test.

Meanwhile, Jonny Bairstow (five places up to 24th) and Dawid Malan (ranked 88th) are the other England batsmen to gain in the rankings.

James Anderson, who bowled a fiery spell of 3-6 in the first innings, has gained one spot to move into the top five bowlers. Ollie Robinson, who scalped seven wickets in the third Test and thus was awarded the Man of the Match, has taken a jump of nine places to move to the 36th spot whereas Craig Overton has re-entered the rankings at the 73rd place.