England’s Harry Brook has ascended to the top of the ICC Test batting rankings, achieving a milestone comparable to Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar. Brook’s rise has also garnered high praise from former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who calls him a “generational player.”
Brook’s current rating of 898 points matches Tendulkar’s career-best, achieved in 2002. This feat is even more impressive considering Brook has reached this mark in just 23 Test matches. His rating places him alongside Tendulkar at joint-34th on the all-time list, surpassing other legendary batsmen like Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid, Javed Miandad, and Mahela Jayawardene.
Brook’s success has been particularly pronounced in away Tests. He boasts an impressive away average of 89.35, significantly higher than his home average of 38.05. Seven of his eight Test centuries have been scored outside England, a key factor in his rise to the top ranking. In his 23 Tests (10 away), Brook has accumulated 2,280 runs, including 1,519 on foreign soil, averaging 61.62 with a striking strike rate of 88.57. In 2024 alone, he has scored 1,099 runs at an average of 61.05, including four centuries.
Ponting, who coached Brook in the IPL, believes Brook is currently the “best Test batter in the world.” He highlighted Brook’s ability to score quickly and with class, particularly away from home. Ponting first noticed Brook’s talent after his debut against South Africa in 2022 and a subsequent century against Pakistan.