This list features 5 iconic batsmen who dominated the ICC Test rankings for extended periods. Their consistent performances, record-breaking feats, and remarkable skill left a lasting impact on Test cricket, defining eras with their brilliance and cementing their legacies as some of the greatest to play the longest format.
5. Sachin Tendulkar (1994, 1998-2000)
Sachin Tendulkar, one of the greatest cricketers in history, achieved nearly every milestone in the game. Over a remarkable 24-year career, he played 200 Tests, scoring 15,921 runs at an average of 53.75, with 51 centuries and 68 fifties. Often a one-man army, he carried India to victory on countless occasions.
Tendulkar first claimed the No. 1 ICC Test ranking in 1994. He regained the top spot in 1998 and maintained his reign until 2000, showcasing his dominance in world cricket.
4. Ricky Ponting (2003, 2005-2007)
Ricky Ponting, Australia’s most successful skipper, was one of the most prolific cricketers in Test history. Though his time at the top of the ICC Test rankings was brief, he consistently remained near the pinnacle. Between 2000 and 2009, Ponting scored 32 Test centuries, with 9458 of his 13,378 Test runs coming in that decade.
Ponting first claimed the No. 1 ICC Test ranking in 2003 but regained and dominated the spot in 2005. He scored an incredible 2877 runs across 25 Tests in 2005-06 before injuries and form dips slowed his momentum.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (2007, 2010-2012)
Kumar Sangakkara, the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer, is among the highest run-scorers in Test cricket history. In 134 Tests, he amassed 12,400 runs at an incredible average of 57.40, including 38 centuries, 52 half-centuries, and 11 double centuries.
Sangakkara first topped the ICC Test rankings in December 2007. He regained the No. 1 spot in 2010 and held it for nearly three years, showcasing remarkable consistency, before being overtaken by Michael Clarke.
2. AB de Villiers (2013-2015)
AB de Villiers, one of the most talented and versatile cricketers, is celebrated for his exceptional skills. In 114 Tests, the former South African skipper scored 8,765 runs at an impressive average of 50.66, including 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries.
In 2013, de Villiers reached the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings, where he dominated as the top-ranked batsman until 2015, exemplifying his consistency and brilliance in the longest format of the game.
1. Steve Smith (2015-2018, 2019)
Steve Smith has been in sensational form over the years, with his dominance beginning in 2014 when he averaged 81.86 and scored 1146 runs in just nine Tests. Between 2014 and 2018, Smith smashed 21 Test centuries, never averaging below 71 during the four calendar years from 2014 to 2017.
In 2015, Smith overtook AB de Villiers to claim the No. 1 ICC Test ranking and held the position until his ban forced him out of the game. Since then, Virat Kohli has dominated the rankings.
| Rank | Player | Periods at No. 1 | Test Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Centuries | Half-Centuries | Key Achievements |
| 5 | Sachin Tendulkar | 1994, 1998–2000 | 200 | 15,921 | 53.75 | 51 | 68 | First reached No. 1 in 1994; maintained dominance in 1998–2000. |
| 4 | Ricky Ponting | 2003, 2005–2007 | 168 | 13,378 | 51.85 | 41 | 62 | Scored 2877 runs in 2005–06; led Australia during its golden era. |
| 3 | Kumar Sangakkara | 2007, 2010–2012 | 134 | 12,400 | 57.4 | 38 | 52 | Held No. 1 spot for nearly three years, showcasing remarkable consistency. |
| 2 | AB de Villiers | 2013–2015 | 114 | 8,765 | 50.66 | 22 | 46 | Dominated rankings with versatile batting and consistency. |
| 1 | Steve Smith | 2015–2018, 2019 | 99+ | 9,283 | 59.55 | 32 | 37 | Scored 21 centuries from 2014–18; unmatched consistency during this period. |