The veteran England batsman Joe Root was named the new No. 1 on Wednesday (June 21). According to the most recent ICC rankings, there is only one batter in Test cricket.
He took the place of Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne, who rose to the top spot among men’s Test batters in December and held it for just over six months.
Labuschagne (877) falls to third place in the most recent Test rankings for male batters, with Root holding down the top spot with 887 points.
Kane Williamson, an experienced New Zealand batter, is in second place with a score of 883, followed by Travis Head (873) and Babar Azam (862).
The culmination of Root’s stellar performance in Test cricket over the past year has led to his ascent to the top. The former England captain has played in 12 Tests since June 21, 2022, scoring 974 runs with an average of 60.87 and three hundreds.
We review five of Root’s top performances from the previous 12 months now that he has earned the top spot in the Test rankings.
1. 142* vs. India, Edgbaston, July 2022.
One of England’s stars during the highest chase at Edgbaston during the rescheduled Test against India was Root. England was given a target of 378 and lost three wickets for 109 runs. However, an unbroken 269 runs were added by Root (142* off 173) and Bairstow (114* off 145) for the fourth wicket, leading England to a remarkable comeback victory. In his exceptional innings, the former England captain had 19 fours and a six.
When India batted first, they scored 416 runs thanks to centuries from Rishabh Pant (146) and Ravindra Jadeja (104). Despite Bairstow’s 106, England’s first innings score was only 284 runs. India’s second innings was bowled out for 245 before Root and Bairstow led England to a memorable victory.
2. 153* and 95 vs New Zealand in Wellington – February 2023.
In the second Test of the two-match series in Wellington, Root scored a brilliant 153* off 224 balls after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat. Three down for 21, the visitors were saved by a 302 run fourth-wicket partnership between Root and Brook (186 off 176) to put England in a strong position.
England declared their first innings on 435-8 after Root’s 376-minute stint, scoring ten fours and three sixes. In the second innings as well, the seasoned batter scored a superb 95 off 113.
In spite of his valor, England was bowled out for 256 in a chase of 258 runs, so his efforts were in vain. Root dropped a short ball from Neil Wagner, becoming the seventh wicket to go for 202.
3. 118* against Australia at Edgbaston – June 2023.
During the first day of the first Ashes 2023 Test at Edgbaston, Root continued his outstanding batting form by smashing 118* off 152.
With three down for 124 after choosing to bat first, England won the toss. Root, however, gave the home team a boost by hitting seven fours and four sixes during his 269-minute stint.
Together with Bairstow (78 off 78), they added 121 runs for the sixth wicket. When England declared their first innings on 393-8 in line with their “Bazball” philosophy, Root was looking good for a lot more.
Usman Khawaja scored 141 in Australia’s 386-point response. Root made 46 off 55 in the second inning. As he prepared to face Nathan Lyon, he was at a loss for words. Australia beat England by two wickets as they chased down a target of 281 after bowling them out for 273 runs.
4. 86* vs New Zealand Leeds, June 2022.
England beat New Zealand by seven wickets in Leeds as they chased down 296 to win the three-match series in style thanks to a quick 86* from Root off 125. The hosts suffered cheap losses when Alex Lees (age 9) and Crawley (age 25) left the game.
However, a third-wicket stand of 134 between Root and Pope (82) allowed England to win easily and sweep the series.
5. 73 vs. Pakistan, Rawalpindi) – December 2022.
In the first Test of the three-match series, England defeated Pakistan by 74 runs in Rawalpindi thanks to Root’s 73 off just 69. In a game with high scoring, England scored 657 in the first innings thanks to tons from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook.
The Test appeared to be headed for a draw after Pakistan responded with 579 runs, but England declared their second innings at 264-7 in just 35.05 overs.
For the fourth wicket, Root and Brook (87 off 65) put on 96 runs. Prior to losing to Zahid Mahmood’s sweep, the former England captain hit six fours. England bowled Pakistan out for 268 while defending a target of 343 to win famously by 74 runs.
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