Root's golden run powers him to No.1

Joe Root has ended Marnus Labuschagne's lengthy reign at the top of cricket's Test batting rankings.

Australia star batter Labuschagne rose to the No.1 spot in December last year following knocks of 103 and 51 in the second Ashes Test England in Adelaide.

But Root, who stepped down as England captain in April, has continued piling up the runs and played a key role as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series against New Zealand this week.

Labuschagne's six-month run as world No.1 ended after Root's brilliant 176 at Nottingham, his fastest Test century. 

"Root has already scored four centuries this calendar year and become just the second Englishman to score more than 10,000 Test runs and that has seen the 31-year-old jump in front of Labuschagne as the number one-ranked batter in the world," said the ICC in a statement.

Root has a total of 897 rating points, five points more than Labuschagne in second place.

It's the fourth time Root has risen to top spot in the rankings, and the first time since December when he was displaced by Labuschagne. 

Australia's Steve Smith stays third in the latest Test rankings, with Pakistan captain Babar Azam and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson completing the top five.

ICC Men's Test Batting Rankings