Labuschagne knocks Root off top spot in Test batting rankings

LONDON - Australia's Marnus Labuschagne has replaced England captain Joe Root at the top of the International Cricket

Council's (ICC) Test batting rankings.

   The 27-year-old's maiden Ashes century at Adelaide helped Australia go 2-0
up in the five-match series against England ahead of the third Test in
Melbourne starting on Sunday, December 26.

   Root, who returned to the number one position in August, has amassed 1,630
runs at an average of 62.69 so far in 2021 and a further 159 in Melbourne
would set a new record for a Test batsman in a calendar year.

   Labuschagne, the ninth Australian man to cross the 900-point mark in the
ICC's Test batting rankings, is ahead of Root, with Australia's Steve Smith
third, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson fourth and India's Rohit Sharma
fifth in the latest standings published Tuesday.

   Leading ICC Test batting rankings (position, player, country, ranking
points):

   1. Marnus Labuschagne (AUS) 912

   2. Joe Root (ENG) 897

   3. Steve Smith (AUS) 884

   4. Kane Williamson (NZL) 879

   5. Rohit Sharma (IND) 797.BSS/AFP