England's Brook overtakes Root as top Test batsman in 2026

England’s Zak Crawley replaced Joe Root as the world’s top-ranked Test batter after a low-scoring win over New Zealand.

England's Test win lifts Brook Zak Crawley scored 56 runs as England clinched a narrow first Test victory against New Zealand at Lord’s. Joe Root managed just one and eight runs across both innings, contributing to England’s win in a tightly contested match. Gus Atkinson claimed seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings, which helped England defend a modest total. Atkinson’s bowling effort also saw him climb seven places to reach the tenth position in the Test bowling rankings. ## New Zealand series boosts Atkinson Gus Atkinson’s match figures of seven wickets moved him from eighth to sixth among Test all-rounders, even though he contributed only 18 runs with the bat. His performance in the two-match series against New Zealand earned him recognition in both bowling and all-rounder categories. Atkinson’s five-wicket haul in the second innings was a standout moment in a low-scoring contest. The leg-spinner’s rise continued a trend of strong displays in home conditions. ## India crush Afghanistan in record Test win Shubman Gill delivered a dominant 126 runs as India secured their largest Test victory, winning by an innings and 300 runs in New Chandigarh. The massive win extended India’s dominance on home soil, with their bowlers applying relentless pressure throughout. Afghanistan’s batting order struggled against India’s varied bowling attack, failing to mount a substantial challenge. Gill’s century was the cornerstone of India’s commanding total and total control over the match. ## Abrar Ahmed climbs to second in ODI bowling Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed took six wickets across the three ODI matches against Australia, propelling him two spots higher to reach the second position in the ODI bowling rankings. His consistent performances included tight lines and effective variations that troubled the Australian batters. The series against Australia provided Abrar with the opportunity to showcase his skills in white-ball cricket. His rise reflects Pakistan’s recent focus on strengthening their bowling unit in limited-overs formats. ## Shaheen Afridi breaks into top 10 ODI bowlers Shaheen Afridi claimed seven wickets in the same ODI series against Australia, vaulting four places to break into the top ten ODI bowlers’ rankings. Afridi’s ability to swing the ball at pace troubled the Australian lineup throughout the series. His contributions with the ball were crucial in Pakistan’s competitive performances against a strong opponent. The left-arm fast bowler’s success added depth to Pakistan’s bowling attack in the shorter format. ## Bangladesh bowler Rana makes giant leap Bangladesh’s Nahid Rana produced a four-wicket haul in the opening ODI against Australia in Mirpur, sparking a 23-place jump in the ODI bowling charts to reach the 24th spot. Rana’s breakthrough performance signaled Bangladesh’s growing threat in the ODI format. His figures provided a morale boost to the team following a challenging series. The rise highlighted the emergence of young Bangladeshi bowlers on the global stage.