Ashes 2015: Joe Root dethrones Steve Smith as No.1 world test batter

English cricketer Joe Root has claimed the top spot of the International Cricket Council’s Player Rankings for Test Batsmen for the first time after helping England defeat Australia in the Ashes series. England dominated Australia in the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge by an inning and 78 runs to reclaim the urn.

Root, who top scored with 130 in England’s innings, has dethroned Australian cricketer Steven Smith in the world rankings, reports ICC. Smith then moved down two places to third, with South Africa’s AB de Villiers staying at No. 2. The 24-year-old Root, who has scored eight centuries in 31 Tests since making his debut in 2012, made 443 runs at an average of 71.79 in the entire series.

"I put my form down to hard work, being very relentless in your practice and doing the things you don't want to -- you've got to face bowling in practice that whistles around your head," Root said, the DNA India reports.

Australia’s David Warner has dropped out of the top 10 and is now in the 11th place, while team captain Michael Clarke, who struggled in the cricket series, has dropped one place to 23rd. Adam Voges went up seven places from the 74th spot after his second innings 51 not out.

Stuart Broad, England’s man of the game during the fourth Test, also climbed up the ladder in the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers. Broad helped England beat the Australians after a notable spell in the opening innings of day one at Trent Bridge. The 29-year-old seamer, who took a career-best 8 for 15 runs in the fourth Test, reached second place in the bowling rankings after inspiring the hosts to victory on his home ground. James Anderson has dropped to third place, while Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson went down at the seventh spot.

England will battle out Australia in the final Test of the Ashes at The Oval on Aug. 20. England will advance to second place of world rankings on 105 points if it wins the series 4-1, but if Australia wins the fifth Test, it will stay ahead of England in the rankings on 106 points.

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