Dubai, Jan 10 (FN Agency) Star Indian batters Virat Kohli (775) and Rohit Sharma (748) moved to sixth and 10th respectively in the latest ICC Test Ranking after solid outings. Australia’s Sydney meeting with Pakistan and the bowling blitz at Cape Town has led to a number of movements in the ICC Men’s Player Rankings.As wickets tumbled at Newlands, a number of India and South Africa fast bowlers enjoyed rankings climbs, most notably Jasprit Bumrah who overtook compatriot Ravindra Jadeja to move to fourth (787). Mohammed Siraj’s 6/15 and 1/31 led to a 13-place jump to a career-high 17th (661), while Lungi Ngidi (up nine spots to 28th) profited from his three-wicket effort in the first innings. Despite a four-wicket Test match, Kagiso Rabada was overtaken by the barnstorming Pat Cummins to go to second on the rankings list (858).
Australia’s captain capped off a Player of the Series performance in the third Pakistan Test, taking six wickets across just 25 overs.Cummins’ compatriot Josh Hazlewood made a move of his own, taking five wickets (including four in the second innings) to move from 11th to a tie for seventh (761) with James Anderson. The shift bumped Nathan Lyon to 11th (742), nine points clear of Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi, who sat out the match, according to an ICC media release.While runs came at a premium across the two Test matches, a number of batters stood up in tricky conditions, and were rewarded with rankings jumps. Scores of 60 and 62 not out for Marnus Labuschagne helped the right-hander to a three-spot jumpto fourth (802), though sits well behind teammate Steve Smith (818) in the spot above. Mohammad Rizwan’s knocks of 88 and 28 meanwhile meant a 10-spot jump to 17th on the other side.
Aiden Markram was imperious at Newlands, striking a second innings century in a team bowled out for just 176. His 106 led to a nine-spot jump to enter the top 20 (667), as the only Protea to make a move of note. Sri Lanka’s two ODI matches at home against Zimbabwe meanwhile saw a number of movers, most notably on the bowling side through spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who moved to a career high rating (634) and rank (11th) with four wickets across the matches. Only Richard Ngarava (seven) took more wickets in the week, leading to a 23-spot jump to a career high rating of his own (634). New Zealand’s Trent Boult (643) is the next man in Ngarava’s sights to overtake. The most noteworthy move on the batting side came through Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, moving into the top 20 with 101 runs across his two innings. Craig Ervine meanwhile moved a dozen places with his 82 in the second meeting. On the T20 front, the last of UAE’s three-match series with Afghanistan saw a number of minor shuffles. Naveen-ul-Haq’s 4/20 helped him move nine spots into the top 50, while UAE’s Ali Naseer entered the top 50 for all-rounders, up five spots to 46.