July 9, 2025
Wiaan Mulder leapfrogs Babar Azam in ICC Test Batting Rankings


South Africa’s stand‑in Test captain Wiaan Mulder has surged up the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings into 22nd place, leapfrogging former Pakistan captain Babar Azam who now sits 23rd. Mulder’s performance against Zimbabwe earlier this month at a remarkable 367 is responsible for his rise to a rocketing 34 places forward to reach 669 rating points, while Azam follows just behind with 651 points.
Not only did Mulder’s innings earn him a new best for himself, but he also jumped 16 places to take 3rd in the ICC Test All‑Rounder Rankings, truly remarkable given his performance. It also reinforced the belief he may be the fastest-growing dual‐threat to South Africa in either batting or bowling.
Notable Shifts in the Rankings
Mulder's 367* secured him a top‑25 Test batting rank—now 22nd with 669 points.
Babar Azam dropped to 23rd with 651 points.
Among Pakistan’s Test batters, Saud Shakeel fell to 13th and Mohammad Rizwan to 21st.
England’s Harry Brook moved to No. 1, pushing Joe Root to second, while New Zealand’s Kane Williamson held at third.
India’s Shubman Gill surged 16 spots into the top 10 at sixth, following his 269 and 161 in the Edgbaston Test.
Mulder's ascent confirms his growth as a quality all-rounder - his 367* is the highest Test score by a South African captain, and one of the most promising players in the world.
Babar Azam's decline reflects a drop in longer formats; while he still performs excellently in shorter formats, his drop in Test rankings confirms inconsistency.
Rise of Gill and Brook bolsters the depth at the top tier, signalling increased competition for the very top positions.
Mulder will aim to build on this momentum in the remaining Test(s) against Zimbabwe and the upcoming series, targeting further ascent in the batting and all‑rounder lists. Pakistan will be keen to see Babar regain form and solidify his place among the elite after this slip.
The top‑ranked positions are becoming increasingly contested—Brook, Root, Williamson, and Gill are all within striking distance of the No. 1 spot.
Mulder's record-breaking knock and sharp rise in the rankings is a major milestone—both for him and South African Test cricket’s forward momentum. Let me know if you'd like an expanded background on his innings or comparative analytics for these batters.
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