Quick Answer
Harry Brook (England) is the No. 1-ranked Test batter in the ICC Men’s rankings, with a rating of 856 points — ahead of Steve Smith (Australia, 840) in 2nd and Joe Root (England, 820) in 3rd. Long-format specialists who can build a sustained innings across a five-day match dominate the top of the list.
Test batting rankings measure who consistently builds match-defining innings across the five-day format — runs, strike rate, and the temperament to bat long periods against the best bowling attacks in the world. Below is the current top 20, refreshed after every completed Test involving a qualifying batter in the ICC’s rolling ratings model.
Full List: Top 20 ICC Men’s Test Batters (2026)
The table below reflects each batter’s current ICC rating and how far behind the No. 1 spot they sit. This rating is built purely from batting performance — runs, strike rate, and match situation — see the methodology note below the table.
| Rank | Player | Team | Rating | Behind #1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Brook |  England |
856 | — |
| 2 ▲1 | Steve Smith |  Australia |
840 | -16 |
| 3 ▼1 | Joe Root | England |
820 | -36 |
| 4 | Travis Head | Australia |
811 | -45 |
| 5 | Temba Bavuma |  South Africa |
775 | -81 |
| 6 | Rachin Ravindra |  New Zealand |
740 | -116 |
| 7 | Rishabh Pant |  India |
713 | -143 |
| 8 ▲1 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand |
710 | -146 |
| 9 ▼2 | Shubman Gill | India |
709 | -147 |
| 10 ▲2 | Kamindu Mendis |  Sri Lanka |
706 | -150 |
| 11 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | India |
697 | -159 |
| 12 ▲1 | Dinesh Chandimal | Sri Lanka |
689 | -167 |
| 13 ▲2 | Aiden Markram | South Africa |
681 | -175 |
| =13 ▲2 | Devon Conway | New Zealand |
681 | -175 |
| 15 ▼5 | Babar Azam |  Pakistan |
679 | -177 |
| 16 ▲1 | Mushfiqur Rahim |  Bangladesh |
672 | -184 |
| 17 ▲1 | Alex Carey | Australia |
670 | -186 |
| 18 ▲15 | Saud Shakeel | Pakistan |
666 | -190 |
| 19 | Sean Williams |  Zimbabwe |
662 | -194 |
| =19 ▼5 | Ben Duckett | England |
662 | -194 |
Source: ICC Official Test Batting Rankings · Data current as of publish date shown above
How the ICC Batting Rating Works
The Test batting rating is built purely from performance with the bat: runs scored, strike rate, and how those numbers stack up against the specific bowling attack and match situation faced across a five-day contest. A gritty century on a difficult pitch and a fluent, fast-scoring hundred on a flat one can both score well depending on context — the model rewards sustained accumulation and match-defining impact together. Ratings are recalculated after every Test a qualifying batter features in, so movement is common through a series.
Notable Movements Since the Last Update
Harry Brook leads for England, edging out Steve Smith and Joe Root at the top. Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel is by far the biggest mover on this list, surging fifteen places to No. 18. On the way down, Babar Azam and Ben Duckett have each dropped five spots, while a cluster of players — Kamindu Mendis, Aiden Markram, Devon Conway among them — have each climbed two places. Four teams are tied for the most representatives inside this top 20, with three batters apiece: Australia, New Zealand, India and England.
FAQs: Men’s Test Batting Rankings
Harry Brook of England is currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings, with a rating of 856 points.
Rankings are recalculated after every completed Test match involving a qualifying batter, so the table can change several times during a single series.
It’s based purely on batting performance — runs scored and strike rate across a five-day match — weighted for recent form and adjusted for the strength of the bowling attack faced.
Australia, New Zealand, India and England are tied for the most batters inside the current top 20, with three each.
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