Top 5 best Test batters in world cricket right now ft. Joe Root & Yashasvi Jaiswal

Batting in Test cricket has witnessed a massive transformation this year in terms of style and the players dominating the format. For the last several years, the 'Fab Four' of Steve Smith, Joe Root, Kane Williamson, and Virat Kohli have dominated the batting records in Test cricket.

While they remain forces to be reckoned with even now, some of the younger batters have taken over the red-ball format and established themselves on the world stage. Furthermore, England's 'Bazball' style of attacking batting has slowly caught up with other sides, and with the presence of the World Test Championship (WTC), batting in Tests has become as flashy and aggressive as ever.

The T20 World Cup may have taken center stage in 2024 yet the longest format has maintained its popularity among purists, providing several thrilling matches and breathtaking knocks from batters around the globe.

On that note, let us rank the top five Test batters in world cricket currently, considering their numbers and other factors since the start of this year.

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#5 Mohammad Rizwan

Australia V Pakistan - Men's 3rd Test: Day 3 - Source: Getty

Pakistan has hit rock bottom in Test cricket with six consecutive losses and counting, yet wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has stood tall through his defiant batting.

The 32-year-old started his 2024 season with a brilliant 88 in the final Test of Australia's 0-3 whitewash in Sydney. Rizwan followed that with a magnificent 171* in the first innings of the opening Test against Bangladesh at home.

He also waged a lone battle in the second innings with 51 even as Pakistan suffered their first-ever Test defeat to Bangladesh. While he hasn't scored any half-centuries in the next two Tests, a 43 in the second Bangladesh Test and a 41 in the first England Test were rare glimpses of a fight in an otherwise sinking Pakistan ship.

Despite batting in the lower middle order and handling the wicket-keeping duties, Rizwan has scored 461 runs at an impressive average of 57.62 in five Tests this year.

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#4 Harry Brook

England v Australia - LV= Insurance Ashes 4th Test Match: Day Three - Source: Getty

England's generational talent Harry Brook has continued his red-hot start in Test cricket this year. The 25-year-old maintained excellent consistency during England's home summer against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Brook smashed a century and two half-centuries in the six Tests as England won both series by 3-0 and 2-1 margins, respectively. However, the best moment of his young Test career came in England's most recent win in the first Test against Pakistan at Multan.

Brook smashed a magnificent 317 off 322 deliveries, becoming only the sixth English batter to score a triple-century to help the side complete an innings victory. The youngster has scored 703 runs in Tests this year at an outstanding average of 58.58 in eight outings.

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#3 Yashasvi Jaiswal

India v New Zealand - 1st Test - Source: Getty

Team India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is barely over a year into his Test career and yet has established himself as among the world's best in the format. The 22-year-old scored runs for fun in India's 4-1 home series win over England to start the 2024 season.

Jaiswal finished with 712 runs (third most by an Indian in a bilateral Test series) at a stunning average of 89 with two double-centuries and three half-centuries. He continued his blistering form in the recent Bangladesh series that India won 2-0, smashing two quickfire half-centuries in four innings.

The southpaw is the third leading run-scorer in Tests this year with 942 runs at an average of 62.80 and an excellent strike rate of almost 78 in nine matches. Jaiswal has also scored 50+ in half of his 16 Test innings in 2024, including two double tons.

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#2 Joe Root

England v Sri Lanka - 2nd Test Match: Day One - Source: Getty

England legend Joe Root has been breaking Test batting records in a canter this year. After a rough start to the 2024 season, the elegant batter scored a brilliant unbeaten century in the fourth Test against India in Ranchi.

Root followed that with another majestic 84 in England's losing effort in the final Test at Dharamsala. The 33-year-old enjoyed a home summer to remember, smashing three centuries and as many half-centuries in the six Tests as England won five with a lone defeat against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

However, Root wasn't done yet as he tormented Pakistan for a breathtaking 262 in the first Test of the ongoing series at Multan to help England pull off a memorable innings victory.

The veteran batter has already climbed to fifth on the all-time run-scoring list in Tests with 12,698 runs. His 2024 Test numbers read an extraordinary 1,282 runs (only batter with over 1,000 Test runs this year) at an average of 64.10, including five centuries and four fifties.

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#1 Kamindu Mendis

England v Sri Lanka - 2nd Test Match: Day Four - Source: Getty

Sri Lankan youngster Kamindu Mendis has started his Test career like very few have in cricket history.

The 26-year-old recently became the third-fastest in Test history to 1,000 runs, equalling the one and only Sir Donald Bradman. Mendis has scored a remarkable 943 runs in only seven Tests this year at an otherworldy average of 94.30 with five centuries and three fifties.

The southpaw started the year with scores of 102, 164, and 92* to help the Lankans whitewash Bangladesh in Bangladesh. Mendis' most impressive performances, however, came on tough English pitches, scoring 267 runs in the three-Test series at an average of 53.40.

Realizing his special talent, Sri Lanka finally promoted Mendis from No.7 to No.5 in the recent home series against New Zealand. The left-hander responded in style with 309 runs at an average of 154.50, including two centuries to help Sri Lanka complete a 2-0 series whitewash over the Blackcaps.