Harry Brook has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings, moving back to the top on August 19, 2026. The England batter replaced Australia’s Travis Head, whose difficult outing in the Darwin Test saw him slide four places to fourth. Head managed scores of 22 and 17 as Bangladesh produced a historic nine-wicket victory over Australia to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The result triggered significant movement in the latest ICC rankings, particularly among the leading Test batters.
Brook now holds a 12-point advantage over fellow England star Joe Root, who remains second. Australia’s Steve Smith has moved into third, while Head sits fourth. The competition at the top remains extremely close, with just 33 rating points separating Brook, Root, Smith and Head.
The latest ranking update marks the fourth time Brook has reached the No. 1 position in Test batting. He previously occupied the summit in December 2024 and will now look to strengthen his position during England’s upcoming Test commitments.
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India’s Jasprit Bumrah, meanwhile, has retained the No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s Test bowling rankings. The premier fast bowler was rested from India’s complete Sri Lanka tour before the series began, but his existing rating points remain sufficient to keep him ahead of his competitors.
The Bangladesh-Australia Test also produced notable gains for several players. Steve Smith was one of Australia’s few consistent performers with the bat, scoring 71 in the first innings and 44 in the second. Those contributions helped him climb to third in the latest batting rankings.
आयसीसी क्रमवारीत टीम इंडियाच्या चौघांचा दबदबा कायम! बाबर आझमने दोन वर्षांनी मारली टॉप १० मध्ये एन्ट्री#ICCRankings #BabarAzam #jaspritbumrah #ravindrajadeja #ShubmanGill #ishankishan
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Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also enjoyed a major rise. After scoring 84 in his only innings, Shanto jumped nine places to reach a career-best 20th position. His move up the rankings saw him overtake India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Bangladesh teammate Litton Das.
Hasan Mahmud was another major beneficiary of Bangladesh’s stunning victory. The fast bowler claimed nine wickets across the match, including an impressive six-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings, which earned him the Player of the Match award. His performance lifted him 26 places to 38th in the Test bowling rankings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz also climbed three spots to 24th after taking five wickets in Australia’s second innings.
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The battle for the top batting position could remain intense, with England set to face Pakistan and Australia preparing for the second Test against Bangladesh. Brook’s 12-point lead over Root leaves little room for complacency, while the narrow gap among the top four means another strong performance could quickly change the order. Bumrah’s position will also be worth monitoring, particularly because his absence from Sri Lanka means he cannot add to his ranking points during the series.
