ESPNcricinfo
Joe Root is no longer the No. 1 Test batter in the world. The player he described as “far and away the best player in the world at the minute,” Harry Brook, has risen to the top of the rankings following his scores of 123 and 55 in the second Test against New Zealand. This achievement came on the heels of his impressive 171 in the first Test, which had previously moved him to second place.
Brook holds a slender lead at the top—just one point—while Root enhanced his standing with a score of 106 in the second innings of the same Test. England won that match by 323 runs, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-Test series. The performances of both players in the upcoming third Test, starting on December 14 in Hamilton, could determine whether Brook remains No. 1 or if Root regains his title almost immediately.
Root had been the top-ranked batsman since surpassing Kane Williamson—currently ranked No. 3—in July of this year. Throughout his career, he has held the No. 1 spot in Test cricket on nine occasions.
Brook was named Player of the Match in Wellington, and Root quickly praised his younger teammate. “Brooky is by far and away the best player in the world at the minute,” he stated. “He can absorb pressure and apply it. He can hit you for six over your head or scoop you for six. He can dominate both spin and seam bowling.”
At just 25 years old, Brook has scored 2,280 runs from 38 innings in 23 Tests, boasting a remarkable average of 61.62. His impressive record includes eight centuries, with a monumental score of 317 against Pakistan in Multan in October 2024.