Brook and Tongue prosper in ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings  

England batter Harry Brook and fast bowler Josh Tongue have made striking progress in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings after crucial performances in the low-scoring fourth match of the ICC World Test Championship series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Brook, who had scaled to the top of the Test batting rankings in December 2024, has overtaken the Australian pair of Steve Smith and Travis Head as well as Kiwi batter Kane Williamson to grab second position behind compatriot Joe Root after vital scores of 41 and 18 not out.

Tongue’s Player of the Match effort of five for 45 and two for 44 has helped him advance 13 slots to a career-best 30th position even as his fellow seam bowlers Gus Atkinson (up four slots to 13th) and Brydon Carse (up six places to 23rd) have also progressed after helping their team win by four wickets.

The year-ending rankings also saw England batters Zak Crawley gain four slots to reach joint-35th position and Jacob Bethel move from 86th to 77th after their knocks of 37 and 40, respectively, in the second innings total of 178 for six, the highest team score in a match that failed to see a single half-century.

There was little good news for the Australian batters in terms of rankings, but fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland have attained career highs.

Starc has reached a career-best second position after his two wickets apiece in the two innings took him past Pat Cummins, who missed the MCG match. Starc now shares the second spot with Pakistan spinner Noman Ali with India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah firmly entrenched in first place.

Scott Boland’s five wickets in the match have helped him move up two places to seventh position as he crossed 800 rating points for the first time in his career. His career-best ranking though is the sixth position that he attained in July this year.

Australia, who wrapped up the Ashes series by winning the first three matches, lead in the ICC World Test Championship standings with 85.71 per centage points. Former champions New Zealand and South Africa are in second and third place, respectively.

For the ICC World Test Championship standings, please click here.

To know more about the ICC Rankings, please click here.