Marnus Labuschagne of Australia is no longer the no.1 ranked Test batter as England stalwart Joe Root ended his reign at the top of the ICC Test batting rankings thanks to his brilliant performance in the first Ashes 2023 Test at Edgbaston.
Labuschagne held the top position for just over six months and had Steve Smith and Travis Head for the company as the top three batters in the ICC rankings. But his reign ended due to a slow start to 2023 where he failed to come good against India in 5 Tests when compared to his standards.
Joe Root then usurped the position with his 118* and 46 scores in the first Test of the Ashes 2023 at Edgbaston despite England losing the match by a close 2 wickets on day five.
Thanks to his brilliant outing in Birmingham, Root rose a massive five places and regain his place as the No.1 ranked Test batter in the world.
Marnus Labuschagne Drops To Third Spot In Rankings; Ravi Ashwin Remains No.1 Ranked Test Bowler
Labuschagne drops to third as a result of scores of 0 and 13 against England, with Kiwi veteran Kane Williamson jumping two places to second overall.
Just 26 rating points now separate the top six players in what is one of the closest competitions recently seen. Fellow Australians Steve Smith (down four ranks to sixth) and Travis Head (down one slot to fourth) also lose ground in the fight to become the No. 1 Test batter.
Australia opener Usman Khawaja was adjudged Player of the Match for his heroics, rose to a new career-best rating and seventh place overall.
Ravichandran Ashwin remains the no.1 ranked Test bowler, while England veteran James Anderson, South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, and Australia captain Pat Cummins in the top five. England duo Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad both rise one place inside the top 10.