Quickest to become ICC No.1 Test Batsman

In Test cricket, scoring runs is as important as picking up wickets. Some of the batsmen have shown their talents at the international levels after they had a great run in their domestic and first-class cricket. International Cricket Council (ICC) updates its rankings after each match and series. Meanwhile, every player dreams to be at the top spot of the ICC rankings.

In this list, the batsman has reached the top spot in such a short time. Meanwhile, in the process of scoring runs for their country, the batsman has reached the top spot and became the quickest to reach there. In this article, we are going to see those batsmen who have become the fastest to reach the no. 1 rank in ICC Test batsman rankings.

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#8. AB De Villers | 146 innings

Former South Africa batsman Abraham Benjamin De Villiers has reached the top spot of the ICC batsman rankings after playing 146 innings in Tests. ABD has reached the top spot in the year 2013. In tests, De Villiers has aggregated 8765 test runs in 191 innings with an average of 50.66. De Villiers has smashed 46 half-centuries and 22 centuries in his Test career. AB can bat with a strike rate of around 100 and also can bat under a strike rate of 30 to save a test match. The former South African keeper-batsman has retired from all forms of cricket last month.

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#7. Michael Clarke | 123 innings

Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke has reached the top spot of ICC test batsman rankings after playing 123 innings in the year 2012. In tests, Clarke has aggregated 8643 runs in 198 innings with an average of 48.83. Clarke has smashed 27 half-centuries and 28 centuries Including 4 double hundred in his test career. The former Australia skipper has been phenomenal in test cricket for his side. Therefore, he comes at number seven on this list of batsmen who are the quickest to become ICC no. 1 test batsman.

#6. Hashim Amla | 120 innings

Former South Africa opener Hashim Amla has reached the top spot of ICC batsman rankings after playing 120 innings in Tests. He reached the top spot in the year 2013. In Tests, Amla has aggregated 9282 runs in 215 innings with an average of 46.41. Hashim Amla has smashed 48 fifties and 28 centuries including 4 double hundred in his career. Amla was the pillar of South Africa's batting in the last era as he reached the no. 1 spot in test batsman rankings. He has been used to being a class player and hitting the ball nicely every time his bat touches the ball. Therefore, he comes at number six on this list of batsmen who are the quickest to become ICC no. 1 test batsman.

#5. Virat Kohli | 115 innings

Indian Test captain Virat Kohli has reached the top spot of ICC batsman rankings after playing 115 innings in Test cricket. Kohli has reached the top spot in the year 2018. He was the highest run-scorer for India in the South Africa tour that year. In Tests, Kohli has aggregated 7801 runs in 164 innings with an average of 50.66 so far. Meanwhile, Kohli has smashed 27 half-centuries and 27 centuries including 7 double tons in his career. Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batsmen of the modern era. Kohli has been a class player in any format of the game. Therefore, he comes at number five on this list of batsmen who are the quickest to become ICC no. 1 test batsman.

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#4. Kane Wiliamson | 86 innings

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has reached the top spot of ICC batsman rankings after playing just 86 innings. He reached the top spot in the year 2015. Kane was in his top form that year. In Tests, Kane has aggregated 7272 runs in 150 innings with an average of 53.47 so far. Kane Williamson has smashed 33 half-centuries and 24 centuries including 4 double hundred in his career. Kane Williamson is one of the greatest batsmen of this era just like Kohli. Therefore, he comes at number four on this list of batsmen who are the quickest to become the ICC no. 1 test batsman.

#3. Joe Root | 59 innings

England skipper Joe Root has also reached the top spot of ICC batsman rankings after playing just 59 innings. Root reached the top spot in the year 2015. He is currently ranked at number second on the ICC Men's test batsman rankings. Root is also a class player just like Kane and Kohli. In Tests, Root has aggregated 9503 runs in 205 innings with an average of 50.02 so far. Joe Root has smashed 53 fifties and 23 centuries including 5 centuries in his Test career. Therefore, he comes at third on this list of batsmen who are the quickest to become the ICC no.1 test batsman.

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#2. Steven Smith | 53 innings

Australia batsman Steven Smith has reached the top spot of ICC test batsman rankings after playing just 53 innings. Smith has reached the top spot in the year 2015 - the same year in which Root & Kane became the no.1 ranked Test batsman. Just like Kohli, Kane, and Root, Smith is also a class player and one of the best test batsmen in the modern era. In Tests, Smith has aggregated 7651 runs in 142 innings with an impressive average of 61.21. Steven Smith has smashed 32 half-centuries and 27 centuries including 3 double tons in his Test career. Therefore, Smith comes at the second spot on this list of batsmen who are the quickest to become the ICC no. 1 test batsman.

#1. Marnus Labuschagne | 35 innings

Australia's current best batsman in the longer format of the game, Marnus Labuschagne has finally topped the ICC Men's rankings for test batsmen. Labuschagne has now become the no. 1 ranked test batsman in the ICC Men's test batsman rankings. Labuschagne has reached the top spot after playing just 35 innings in his Test career. In Tests, Labuschagne has aggregated 2113 runs in 35 innings with an impressive average of 62.15. Moreover, he has smashed 12 half-centuries and 6 centuries including one double ton in his Test career. Therefore, he becomes the no. 1 ranked Test batsman on this list and he is currently leading the ICC batsman rankings after overtaking Joe Root.

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N.B: The stats are accurate as of 26/12/2021.