Harry Brook has displaced Joe Root to become the new Test number one in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test batting rankings. In the England vs New Zealand 1st Test, Brook scored 56 runs, while Root managed to score just 9 runs. Root, who was number one, has moved down to third, while Australia’s Travis Head has moved up to the second spot.
Harry Brook: The new number 1 Test batter
In tough batting conditions at Lord’s, Brook‘s half-century in the first innings helped England gain a 27-run lead. Although he was dropped twice by New Zealand, the aggressive middle-order batter managed to push the Kiwis after his side was 55/5 and posted 140 on the board.
ICC Test batting rankings (as of June 20, 2026)
| Position | Team | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (+1) | England | Harry Brook | 869 |
| 2 (+1) | Australia | Travis Head | 853 |
| 3 (-2) | England | Joe Root | 851 |
| 4 | Australia | Steve Smith | 831 |
| 5 (+1) | Sri Lanka | Kamindu Mendis | 781 |
| 6 (-1) | New Zealand | Kane Williamson | 780 |
| 7 | South Africa | Temba Bavuma | 775 |
| 8 (+2) | India | Shubman Gill | 743 |
| 9 (-1) | India | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 733 |
| 10 (+1) | Sri Lanka | Dinesh Chandimal | 717 |
Brook expected to replace Ben Stokes as England Test captain
Brook’s move to the top comes as Ben Stokes‘ future as England’s Test captain is in danger. In the early hours of Monday, June 8, Stokes and England fast bowler Gus Atkinson were involved in a tussle at a nightclub. Following some disagreement, Saracens Rugby Club player Totoa Auvaa allegedly tried to punch Atkinson but hit the security personnel with Atkinson and Stokes instead.
For the unaware, England had placed a curfew on the players after the Ashes debacle. Stokes and Atkinson flaunted the restrictions, and the England Cricket Board (ECB) isn’t pleased. Reports suggest that Stokes has been asked to resign. If he doesn’t, he’ll be sacked as England’s Test captain. It further came out that Stokes is mulling retirement and will meet his agent Neil Fairbrother to discuss the matter.
If Stokes steps down or is sacked, Brook will take over as captain. In any case, Stokes and Atkinson are expected to miss the remaining New Zealand Tests, with the ECB planning to hand them a 2-match suspension. Atkinson, who took 7 wickets at Lord’s, has broken into the top ten of the ICC Test bowling rankings and jumped to sixth on the all-rounder rankings after scoring 17 runs against the Kiwis across 2 innings.
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