With the latest released ICC rankings, the excitement for test cricket is at its peak. The top three bowlers have such minute differences between them that any one of them could snatch away the Number One spot from their peers at any time.
Who holds the top spot in tests?
The latest rankings update from the ICC has created a tie at the top, with both Anderson and Ashwin now sharing the top spot with 859 rating points. R.Ashwin dropped six rating points after the third Test against Australia, where he picked up four wickets. Anderson, on the other hand, has been in excellent form, picking up crucial wickets in England’s recent series against India and Sri Lanka.
The absence of Pat Cummins from the final two Tests of the India-Australia series has seen his rating drop to 849 points. Despite this, the Australian captain and fast bowler still remains in third place on the ICC Test bowler rankings and is within striking distance of the leading two players. Cummins’ performance in recent times has been impressive, and it is likely that he will continue to be a strong contender for the top spot in the rankings.
Another potential challenger for the top spot in the rankings is South African pacer Kagiso Rabada. The 27-year-old has climbed three spots to fourth place and currently has 807 rating points on the latest list for Test bowlers. Rabada’s recent performance in the first Test against the West Indies was exceptional, as he collected eight wickets to help South Africa secure an 87-run victory at Centurion.
Australia’s veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has been in sensational form recently and has made an eye-catching move in the ICC Test bowler rankings. Lyon has climbed an impressive five places to reach the ninth position overall, thanks to his match-winning performance in the third Test against India. Lyon’s 11-wicket haul in the match played a crucial role in Australia’s victory, and he was rightly adjudged the player of the match.
There have not been much changes in the batting rankings in tests. The top spot is still held by Marnus Labuschagne, with his teammate and former captain Steve Smith holding the second spot. The third spot is held by former England Captain Joe Root.
Australia opener Usman Khawaja has moved up two places to ninth overall, thanks to his consistent performances in recent Tests. Khawaja has been a dependable opener for Australia and has been instrumental in setting the foundation for the team’s success.
South African right-hander Aiden Markram has made a giant leap of 21 places to 33rd in the rankings, following his impressive performances in the first Test against the West Indies. Markram scored a brilliant century in the first innings and was the backbone of South Africa’s batting lineup. He will be looking to continue his form in the upcoming Tests and climb even higher up the rankings.
Similarly, West Indies middle-order performer Jermaine Blackwood has also made significant progress in the rankings. Blackwood has moved up 12 spots to 35th place in the rankings, following his excellent performance in the first Test against South Africa. Blackwood scored a gritty half-century in the second innings and showed great resilience in tough conditions.
Changes in ODI Rankings
The latest ODI Player Rankings have seen some significant movements, following the conclusion of England vs. Bangladesh series. England’s top-order batsmen have particularly shone in the rankings, with Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, and Dawid Malan all making notable improvements.
Jason Roy, England’s explosive opener, has climbed five places in the ODI batting rankings to reach 12th position overall. Roy has been in excellent form recently, and his quick-fire starts at the top of the order have been instrumental in setting the tone for England’s victories.
England’s skipper Jos Buttler has also made significant progress in the rankings, climbing four spots to reach 16th position. Dawid Malan, the experienced middle-order batsman, has made a massive leap of 22 places in the rankings to reach the 35th position overall.
Shakib’s 75 runs with the bat and four-wicket haul in England’s innings earned him the Player of the Match award, and he was also rewarded in all ODI ranking categories. Despite already holding the No.1 ranking for ODI all-rounders, Shakib’s impressive performance in the series saw him improve his ranking in other categories as well. Shakib has improved five places to reach 27th position on the list for ODI batters, thanks to his contributions with the bat in the third ODI. Furthermore, his performance with the ball has seen him climb two spots to reach the fifth position on the list of ODI bowlers.
However, Babar Azam still holds the number position in the batting list. He has 887 points, with a massive lead of 100 points from Rassie van der Dussen, who holds the second spot with 787 points. In bowling, Mohammad Siraj holds the top spot with 729, with a close difference of 2 points from Josh Hazlewood.
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