Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo,Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S Test cricket talisman Sean Williams is now officially rubbing shoulders with the game’s global greats and he’s done it in style!
The 38-year-old left-hander has cracked a career-best world ranking, jumping one spot up to number 13 on the International Cricket Council (ICC) men’s Test batting ladder. Williams now holds a solid 725 rating points, thanks to a standout performance against South Africa that saw him hammer 257 runs at an average of 85.66 over two matches.
Dubbed “Mr Reliable” by fans, Williams was Zimbabwe’s top run-scorer during the Proteas series. He lit up the first Test with a sizzling 137 off 165 balls, marking his sixth Test century and etching his name deeper into Zimbabwe’s cricket folklore.
That ton means he is now tied for second most Test centuries in Zimbabwean history, level with legends Brendan Taylor and Grant Flower, and only trailing Andy Flower, who notched 12.
And here’s the stinger: Of the 10 Test centuries Zimbabwe has registered in the past five years, half have come from Williams’ bat. The man has stacked up 1,311 runs during that period, proving that age is just a number when it comes to batting class.
In 2025 alone, Williams has racked up 577 Test runs at an average of 52.45, making him the second highest run-scorer in the world this year, only behind India’s Shubman Gill who leads with 640.
It is not just Williams flying the flag. Teammate Craig Ervine nudged up to position 50, while rising star Brian Bennett made a double jump to number 69. However, Ben Curran remains at 95 and Sikandar Raza slipped one place to 99, rounding off the only five Zimbabwean batters in the global top 100.
Meanwhile, on the global leaderboard, England’s Joe Root reclaimed the number one Test batter crown after a vintage ton against India at Lord’s. Root leapfrogged teammate Harry Brook, who slipped to third, while New Zealand maestro Kane Williamson moved up to second.
With Williams blazing bright, Zimbabwe’s Test hopes look to be riding on solid shoulders. The question now is; can he crack the top 10? Don’t bet against it!
