The Ashes: Joe Root Climbs to No.1 Spot in Test Rankings
Joe Root, who helped England win the Ashes series with his top-score of 130 in Nottingham Test, becomes the first English batsman since Michael Vaughan (2003) to claim the No.1 rank in Tests.
England's Joe Root has climbed two spots to displace Steven Smith as No.1 Test ranked batsman after helping the Three Lions regain the Ashes on Saturday in Nottingham. England defeated Australia by an innings and 78 runs in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge to win the series 3-1 with last match to be played at the Oval from August 20.
Root, who top-scored with 130, has become just the sixth English player to hit the top of either the batting or bowling rankings since 1980. The full list is as follows; Ian Botham (bowling, 1980 for 361 days), David Gower (batting, from 1984-86 for 198 days), Graham Gooch (batting, from 1991-94 for 988 days), Michael Vaughan (batting, in 2003 for 44 days) and Steve Harmison (bowling, in 2004 for 120 days).
While South Africa's AB de Villiers maintains his second position, Australia's David Warner has dropped out of the top-10 and is now in 11th place, retiring Michael Clarke has slipped one place to 23rd. However Adam Voges' second innings 51 not out has helped elevate the Perth man by seven places to 74th.
It was a good news for England's bowling unit as well. Pacer Stuart Broad, who picked up 9 wickets in the match, rose three rungs up to take the second slot. Ben Stokes who has soared 20 places to a career-high 42nd, while Mark Wood has also moved up nine places to 57th. However, James Anderson, who missed the Nottingham Test, dropped a place to third. (Cricket Australia Pays Tribute to 'Brave and Daring' Clarke)
Broad has also climbed one place to fourth in the all-rounders' list.