England's Joe Root reclaims number one spot in ICC Test batting rankings

England star Joe Root has returned to the summit of the International Cricket Council's batting rankings to be named the world's number one Test batsman.

The 24-year-old is now three points above Australia's Steve Smith after he scored two separate half-centuries in England's 178-run defeat to Pakistan in the second Test.

Smith held the title after dislodging Root in the fifth Ashes Test on UK shores, but after Australia's two-Test series against Bangladesh was postponed due to a security threat, the 26-year-old has been unable to improve his ranking.

Root, who has scored eight centuries and averages 56.79 after 34 Tests, is the first Englishman since Michael Vaughan to take the number one place in the list.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Yasir Shah has moved to second in the Test bowler rankings after taking 8-180 in his side's recent win over England.