England captain Joe Root, the world’s new number one test hitter; Root has scored three centuries in the ongoing series against India; Root Beats New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson as Top-Ranked Test Hitter; England bowler James Anderson climbs to fifth place in the test bowling rankings
Joe Root has been in masterful form scoring 1,398 runs in 11 games this calendar year
England captain Joe Root has returned to the top of the ICC Test batting rankings for the first time in six years.
Root has scored centuries in all three test matches against India this summer and is the series’ leading scorer with 507 runs at an average of 126.75, heading into Thursday’s fourth test at the Kia Oval.
His excellent 2021 form, which has seen him reach six centuries and fifty, sees him surpass New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to become the top-ranked test hitter.
Root started the year in ninth on the charts with a 738 rating, and failed to score a single century in 2020.
But the 30-year-old, who has scored 1,398 runs averaging 69.90 in 11 games this year, has now achieved a 916 rating, just one short of his career best of 917 achieved in August 2015. when it reached the rankings for the first time. summit.
Root said: “[Being No 1] It is not something that I have as a main focus, but obviously I am proud to hear that I have achieved it. It would be nice to be able to stay there now and continue playing as I am. As nice as it is, there is still a lot of work to do.
“My focus doesn’t change. It’s about continuing to improve and hopefully preparing games for us to win the test matches. My focus is trying to keep scoring runs in this series and push ourselves to the limit.
“I hope the shape of my life is yet to come but I certainly feel very good at the moment.
“I need to stay focused and diligent in my preparation and the work that I am doing behind the games, so I give myself the best chance of continuing to score well.”
To climb to the top of the charts, Root edged out India captain Virat Kohli, Australian duo Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith and Williamson, with Root being the only batsman to score more than 800 runs this year.
The burden of scoring runs that falls on Root’s shoulders for England is exemplified by the fact that Ben Stokes, currently on an indefinite hiatus, is England’s next hitter on the list at No. 16, while of the players who are currently on the team, Rory Burns is ranked 24th.
For the first time in nearly four years, Kohli is not the highest-rated hitter on his team. After just half a century in seven innings since arriving in England, he has been usurped by starter Rohit Sharma at number five.
Among bowlers, former world number one James Anderson is England’s leading name, back to number five on a list led by Australian Pat Cummins, while Ollie Robinson’s player from the match’s performance in Headingley sees him jump to 36th place after just four tests. .
