ICC Rankings: Major changes in Standings, Joe Root dethrones Australia's dominance despite Edgbaston loss

ICC Rankings: England's stalwart Joe Root on Wednesday dethroned Australia's dominance from the ICC rankings as the former English skipper took the World No.1 spot in the Test batters chart. England went down to Australia in a humdinger in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham as Aussie skipper Pat Cummins famously took the visitors over the line by 2 wickets. However, the Aussies have been bossed in the ICC standings.

As per the latest Rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Joe Root has jumped five places in the batters' chart and has become the World No.1 in the purest format with rating points of 887. However, after occupying the top three places a previous week ago, there is only one Australian batter on the podium places now. Former World No.1 Marnus Labuschagne has lost two places and is now the World No.3 with 877 ratings as Kane Williamson moves to the second with 6 ratings better.

Root's 30 Test ton powers him to the peak

Meanwhile, it was Joe Root's 30th ton and a handy contribution in the second innings of the 1st Ashes Test that took him to the peak of the mountain. Root his 118 in 152 balls in the first innings before scoring 46 from 55 balls in the second term. 

Usman Khawaja was the showstopper for Australia with his 141 in the first innings and a handy 65 in the chase of 281. Meanwhile, former World No.2 Steve Smith now pushed out of the top five as he occupied sixth place behind Babar Azam with 861 ratings. World No.3 a week ago, Travis Head now stands in fourth behind Labuschagne and has 873 ratings to his name.

Labuschagne held the first place for six months from December 2022 but his slow start in 2023 has seen him go down. He attracted a duck and a 16 in the first Ashes Test. Meanwhile, Smith scored 16 and 6 in the game, whereas Head made 50 and 16.

Virat Kohli lose one spot

India's Kohli has gone one place down in the ICC rankings. He now sits in 14th place after a not-so-convincing performance in the WTC Final. Meanwhile, England's Harry Brook replaces him at 13 as he made 32 and 46 in the two innings of the Ashes Test.