Harry Brook’s standout performance in England’s Test win over New Zealand in Christchurch has propelled him to No. 2 in the ICC Test batting rankings. His first-innings knock of 171 moved him two places up, reducing the gap with top-ranked Joe Root to just 41 points. Root’s modest scores of 0 and an unbeaten 23 in the same match left the rankings race tighter than ever.
Brook’s rise also saw Yashasvi Jaiswal drop to fourth, as the India-Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is on hold. Kane Williamson remains third after scoring 93 and 61 in Christchurch.
In Durban, South Africa’s emphatic 233-run win over Sri Lanka brought significant changes to the rankings. Temba Bavuma’s scores of 70 and 113 earned him a 14-spot leap to No. 10 among batters. Marco Jansen, named Player of the Match for his 11-wicket haul (7/13 and 4/73), surged 19 places to ninth among bowlers and climbed to second in the all-rounders’ rankings, just behind Ravindra Jadeja.
Tristan Stubbs also made notable progress, rising 29 places to 42nd after his second-innings 122. For Sri Lanka, Kamindu Mendis managed a minor gain, climbing two spots to seventh among batters despite scoring just 13 and 10. Dinesh Chandimal’s second-innings 83 lifted him to 17th.
The week’s rankings reflect a dynamic shift driven by standout performances and pivotal moments in Christchurch and Durban.