English batsman Joe Root has won the battle with Australian captain Steve Smith by regaining his place at the top of the ICC Test batting rankings despite England’s defeat to Pakistan in Dubai.
Root and Smith have been battling it out for close to a year to see who will hold the coveted position. Thanks to a combined score of 159 runs in his two innings during the Test match defeat, Root has snatched the title for the time being by just three ranking points.
Joe Root Regains ICC Test Ranking Crown
Along with helping his move up the rankings, the Dubai Test saw Root become the seventh fastest English batsman to make 3000 runs in the Test format and with 1,278 runs from 12 Tests, going at an average of 67.28, Root is also the leading run-scorer for 2015.
Root will be looking to distance himself from his Australia rival when England faces off against Pakistan in their deciding Test match in Sharjah.
Root wasn’t the only player to move up after the Dubai match however. Pakistan batsmen Misbah-Ul-Haq and Younis Khan both climbed the ladder respectively. Khan moved up into the top five, along with becoming the first Pakistan batsman to reach a mammoth total of 9000 Test runs, while Misbah jumps up to 11th after his brilliant batting performances earned him a combined total of 189 runs in his two innings.
Finally, Pakistan Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who ended the match with bowling figures of 8-180, has leaped to number two in the Test bowling rankings, just behind South African quick Dale Steyn, surpassing the likes of English duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad as well as Kiwi swing bowler Trent Boult.
England will need to win the final Test match to salvage a draw considering they currently sit 1-0 down to Pakistan but with the current form Root finds himself in and with the success Shah found in the precious match, the battle will certainly be fierce from both sides.
England will be fighting for pride while Pakistan is eyeing glory.
