New Delhi, Aug 19: Bangladesh’s historic nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin has brought a significant reshuffle to the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, but the biggest change has come at the top of the batting chart, where Harry Brook has reclaimed the No.1 position from Australia’s Travis Head.
The latest rankings also highlight the continued dominance of Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling chart, with the Indian pacer retaining the top position. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s players have made some of the biggest gains following their stunning victory over Australia.
Brook back on top as Head slips
Brook has returned to the summit of the Test batting rankings with 852 rating points, moving ahead of England teammate Joe Root, who is second with 840.
Australia’s Steve Smith occupies third place with 833 points, while Travis Head has dropped three places to fourth with 819.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma completes the top five with 775 points.
The battle at the top remains extremely tight. There are just 33 rating points between Brook at No.1 and Head at No.4, meaning the order could change again quickly as the leading teams return to action.
Top 5 Test batters
| Rank | Player | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Brook | England | 852 |
| 2 | Joe Root | England | 840 |
| 3 | Steve Smith | Australia | 833 |
| 4 | Travis Head | Australia | 819 |
| 5 | Temba Bavuma | South Africa | 775 |
Head’s fall came after scores of 22 and 17 in Darwin, while Smith’s 71 and 44 helped him move above his Australian teammate.
Bumrah remains No.1 among bowlers
There was no change at the top of the bowling rankings, with Jasprit Bumrah retaining the No.1 position on 870 rating points.
Bumrah continues to lead a high-quality group of fast bowlers, with New Zealand’s Matt Henry second at 861 and Australia’s Mitchell Starc third at 826.
South Africa’s Marco Jansen is fourth with 825, while Australia captain Pat Cummins occupies fifth place with 818.
Top 5 Test bowlers
| Rank | Player | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 870 |
| 2 | Matt Henry | New Zealand | 861 |
| 3 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 826 |
| 4 | Marco Jansen | South Africa | 825 |
| 5 | Pat Cummins | Australia | 818 |
Bangladesh cash in after historic Darwin win
The biggest rankings beneficiaries from the latest round, however, are Bangladesh’s players.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto climbed nine places to 20th, reaching a career-best ranking after scoring 84 in the first innings against Australia.
Mominul Haque rose five places to 31st, while Bangladesh’s bowling attack also received a significant boost.
The most dramatic bowling movement came from Hasan Mahmud, who jumped an extraordinary 26 places to 38th after his nine-wicket match. He was named Player of the Match following Bangladesh’s first Test victory in Australia.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz also moved three places to 24th among Test bowlers after taking five wickets in Australia’s second innings.
Australia’s Cameron Green gained five places to 30th among batters after scoring a century in the second innings, despite Australia eventually losing the match by nine wickets.
Shanto enters the top 20
Shanto’s rise is arguably the most important movement for Bangladesh’s batting group.
His 84 helped Bangladesh build the platform for their 426 in the first innings, after Australia had been dismissed for 198. The captain’s nine-place jump means Bangladesh now have a batter inside the top 20 at a time when the team is attempting to establish itself as a stronger Test side away from home.
The ranking movement therefore mirrors what happened in Darwin: Bangladesh’s victory was a collective effort rather than the result of one individual performance.
A rankings boost to match a historic result
The latest rankings tell two stories. At the top, Brook has regained the No.1 batting position, while Bumrah continues to set the pace among bowlers.
But below the elite group, Bangladesh have made significant progress after one of the biggest Test victories in their history.
Shanto’s move into the top 20, Mehidy’s rise to No.24 and Hasan Mahmud’s extraordinary 26-place jump show how quickly one outstanding Test can alter the rankings landscape.
For Bangladesh, the timing could hardly be better. They lead Australia 1-0 in the two-Test series, with the second Test in Mackay offering another opportunity to strengthen both their series position and their growing presence in the ICC rankings.
Story first published: Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 17:47 [IST]
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