London: Harry Brook, the newly-crowned world number one Test batter, has matched the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in the ICC Test Batting Rankings by achieving 898 rating points, surpassing numerous cricketing greats along the way.
According to Wisden, Brook's 898 rating points equal Sachin's career-high, which he reached in 2002 after a Test match against Zimbabwe. Remarkably, Brook has accomplished this feat after playing only 23 Tests.
He has outperformed several cricketing icons, including former Australian captain Steve Waugh, who peaked at 895 points, former India captain Rahul Dravid with 892 points, Javed Miandad at 885 points, and Mahela Jayawardene at 883 points, as noted by Wisden.
In the overall ranking, Brook is tied for 34th place alongside Sachin. Michael Clarke holds 900 rating points, while Hashim Amla has 907 points.
Joe Root, currently ranked second with 897 points, is just below Brook and sits at 17th overall. He achieved a peak rating of 932 earlier this year after scoring a double century in the first Test against Pakistan.
At the top of the rankings is the Australian cricketing legend Don Bradman, who reached an impressive 961 rating points, followed by Steve Smith, who peaked at 947 points in 2017 but has since dropped to 11th place with a current rating of 708 points.
Brook boasts an impressive average of 89.35 in Tests played away from home, significantly higher than his 38.05 average on home turf. Notably, seven out of his eight Test centuries have been achieved outside of England, highlighting his ascent in the rankings.
Across 23 Tests, including 10 played away, Brook has accumulated 2,280 runs, with 1,519 runs scored on international pitches and 761 runs at home, resulting in an average of 61.62 and a strike rate of 88.57. His career statistics feature eight centuries and 10 half-centuries, with a remarkable high score of 317.
In the year 2024 alone, Brook has recorded 1,099 runs in Tests, averaging 61.05, which includes four centuries and three fifties across 18 innings, with his top score remaining at 317.
