In a remarkable display of cricketing prowess, Sri Lanka secured their first Test victory over England on foreign soil during the recently concluded series, and the impact of this achievement is reflected in the latest ICC Men’s Test Rankings. Following their triumph in the third Test match at The Oval, six Sri Lankan players have attained new career-high ratings, marking a significant milestone for the team.
Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, alongside middle-order batsman Kamindu Mendis and opener Pathum Nissanka, played pivotal roles in this historic win. De Silva’s top score of 69 in the first innings not only helped his team to victory but also propelled him to a new career-best rating, moving him up three places to 13th overall in the Test rankings for batters.
Career-High Ratings for Sri Lankan Stars
The accomplishments of de Silva were mirrored by his teammates. Kamindu Mendis also made a notable impact, gaining six places to reach 19th overall after contributing a half-century against England. Meanwhile, Pathum Nissanka experienced a remarkable jump of 42 spots to 39th place, thanks to his impressive innings of 64 and an unbeaten 127.
This surge in rankings is a testament to the hard work and determination of the Sri Lankan players, who have shown resilience and skill throughout the series. The victory at The Oval not only boosts their confidence but also enhances their standing in the international cricketing community.
England’s Mixed Results
While Sri Lanka celebrated their success, the news was less favorable for England’s Joe Root, who retained his position as the No. 1 ranked Test batter despite underwhelming scores of 13 and 12 in the match. Root’s rating points dropped from 922 to 899, allowing New Zealand‘s Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, and Australia’s Steve Smith to close the gap.
England’s Harry Brook also faced a decline, falling seven places to 12th following scores of 19 and three against Sri Lanka. However, there were some bright spots for England, with stand-in skipper Ollie Pope climbing seven places to equal 27th after scoring a century in the first innings, and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith rising six spots to equal 30th after a quickfire half-century.
Bowling Rankings See Movement
In addition to the batting rankings, the latest updates also reflect gains for Sri Lankan bowlers. Vishwa Fernando led the charge, gaining 13 spots to equal 31st after taking five wickets during the Test against England. His teammates, Lahiru Kumara and Milan Rathnayake, also made progress, moving up to 32nd and equal 84th, respectively. England’s Olly Stone improved his position by 13 places to 74th following his three wickets in the first innings.
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The latest rankings also saw movement in the T20I format following Australia’s series sweep over Scotland. Australia‘s skipper Mitch Marsh climbed two spots to equal 17th, while wicketkeeper Josh Inglis made a significant leap of 28 places to 23rd. Spinner Adam Zampa gained one position to move to seventh on the T20I rankings for bowlers, while Scotland’s Bradley Currie improved by 20 spots to reach 49th.
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