Test batter rankings race tight as new top T20I bowler confirmed

A West Indies spinner has become the new No.1 ranked T20I bowler for the first time as the race to be the premier Test batter took yet another twist on the latest ICC Men's Player Rankings.

Left-armer Akeal Hosein climbs to the top of the tree for T20I bowlers on the back of his two-wicket haul for the West Indies in the opening match of their ongoing series against Bangladesh, with his spell of 2/13 helping the spinner improve three places to take the No.1 spot.

Men's T20I Bowler Rankings

The rise of Hosein sees England spinner Adil Rashid drop to second, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga move to third and Australia’s Adam Zampa fall to fourth, while there is also a major shake-up at the top of the latest Test batter rankings.

England veteran Joe Root regains his place as the No.1 ranked Test batter following scores of 32 and 54 during the third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton, while teammate Harry Brook moves back to second after a pair of failures in the same contest following his brief one-week sojourn at the top.

But the big mover is New Zealand star and former No.1 ranked Test batter Kane Williamson, who moves within 28 rating points of Root at the top following his 33rd Test century for his country against England in a commanding victory for the Black Caps at Basin Reserve.

Men's Test Batter Rankings

Williamson improves to 867 rating points on the back of his brilliant knock of 156 in the second innings in Hamilton, with Root (895 points) and Brook (876) within touch in a tight battle for the premier position for Test batters.

There is more joy for the Kiwis with skipper Tom Latham (up six places to equal 31st) and fellow opener Will Young (up 13 spots to 36th) making ground on the list for Test batters, while pacer Matt Henry improves two rungs to move to seventh and a new career-high rating for Test bowlers following his six wickets against England.

Men's Test Bowler Rankings

England will be buoyed by the performance of Gus Atkinson, who improves three spots to 14th on the list for Test bowlers and gains five places to eighth overall for all-rounders after an excellent series in New Zealand.

Men's Test All-Rounder Rankings

It's not just Hosein that makes big gains on the latest white-ball rankings, with West Indies teammates Johnson Charles (up six places to 19th) and Rovman Powell (up 10 spots to equal 22nd) also catching the eye with sudden rises on the list for T20I batters following some good contributions in the opening game against Bangladesh.

Men's T20I Batter Rankings

Pakistan right-hander Babar Azam (up one spot to sixth) and South Africa dasher Reeza Hendricks (up six rungs to equal ninth) also make ground on the rankings for T20I batters, while Bangladesh's biggest mover is Mahedi Hasan as he gains 18 places to improve to 23rd for T20I bowlers.