The latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings have brought significant shifts, with Australia and South Africa leading the charge. The past week saw the three-Test series conclude, with major performances altering the leaderboard.
Scott Boland Makes a Big Leap
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One of the biggest movers in the rankings is Australia’s Scott Boland. The Sydney Test Player of the Match climbed 29 spots to break into the top 10 bowlers. He is now sharing the ninth position with India’s Ravindra Jadeja.
Boland’s heroics in Sydney, where he grabbed a remarkable 10-wicket haul (4/31 and 6/45), played a crucial role in Australia reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade-long wait. His fiery spells left India’s batters struggling on a lively pitch.
Pat Cummins Closes In on Bumrah
Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins also gained in the rankings, climbing to No.2 among Test bowlers. His five-wicket haul in the final Test helped him close the gap on India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who remains at the top with 908 points.
Bumrah, who already made history by achieving the highest-ever rating for an Indian bowler, added another point to his tally after taking two wickets in the first innings of the Sydney Test. However, a back spasm kept him from bowling in the second innings, limiting his impact.
Rishabh Pant Shines with the Bat
In a low-scoring Sydney Test, only two half-centuries were recorded. Rishabh Pant’s explosive knock of 61 off 33 balls stood out, earning him a three-spot rise in the batting rankings to No.9.
In contrast, the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan saw batters take centre stage. Ryan Rickelton’s magnificent double century (259) earned him the Player of the Match award and a massive jump of 48 places to No.55 in the batting rankings.
South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma continued his excellent form, scoring a crucial century in the first innings. His efforts saw him climb three spots to No.6, reaching a career-best rating of 769 points.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne’s century helped him rise four places to secure the No.25 spot in the batting charts.
Pakistan’s Resilience Shows in the Second Innings
Pakistan had a tough time with the bat in the first innings, managing just 194 in response to South Africa’s mammoth 615. But they showed grit after being asked to follow on.
Babar Azam’s consistent performances, with half-centuries in both innings, saw him climb five spots to 12th in the batting rankings. Captain Shan Masood’s fighting 145 in the second innings propelled him 12 places to 45th.
Rabada and Jansen Shine in Bowling and All-Rounder Rankings
Kagiso Rabada’s six-wicket haul in the Test against Pakistan saw him rise to No.3 in the bowling rankings, trailing only Bumrah and Cummins.
South Africa’s Marco Jansen made a mark in the all-rounder rankings, climbing two places to No.2. His performance, which included a brisk half-century and three wickets, has brought him closer to overtaking Jadeja at the top.
Afghanistan’s Historic Win Over Zimbabwe
Afghanistan made headlines with their historic series win over Zimbabwe. Centurions Rahmat Shah and debutant Ismat Alam made significant moves in the batting rankings, with Shah climbing 26 places to No.26 and Alam entering the charts at joint No.82.
Rashid Khan, returning to Test cricket after a long break, was pivotal in Afghanistan’s victory. His career-best figures of 7/66 in the second innings and a match tally of 11 wickets saw him re-enter the bowling rankings at No.54.
White-Ball Cricket Rankings Update
In white-ball cricket, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera stole the show in the final T20I against New Zealand with a blistering 46-ball century. His performance earned him a 26-spot jump to No.10 in the T20I batting rankings.
In the ODI rankings, New Zealand’s Matt Henry moved up to 12th among bowlers after a four-wicket haul in the opening match against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Will Young’s unbeaten 90 saw him rise to joint 13th in the batting charts.
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