Former Pakistan cricket captain, Babar Azam, has made a significant leap in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Rankings for batters, securing the fifth position in the latest update.
Babar Azam, 29, rose five places from his previous ranking of 10th, fueled by his exceptional performance in the recent Test series. The struggles of Indian and Australian batsmen in their respective matches also contributed to Azam’s ascent.
Meanwhile, England’s Ollie Pope has attained a career-high rating following his standout performance in the first Test against India, ascending an impressive 20 places to 15th in the rankings.
New Zealand’s veteran batsman, Kane Williamson, maintains his position as the top-ranked Test batter globally. Australia’s opener, Usman Khawaja, has climbed two places to eighth after his half-century in the second Test against the West Indies at the Gabba. India’s star player, Virat Kohli, currently stands at sixth.
In the bowling rankings, India’s Ravichandran Ashwin continues to lead, bolstered by his six-wicket haul against England. Teammate Jasprit Bumrah has risen to fourth place after claiming six wickets of his own in Hyderabad. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada holds the second position, while Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, is placed third.
On the all-rounder front, India’s Ravindra Jadeja maintains a comfortable lead. However, England’s Joe Root is emerging as a potential challenger after his impressive performance with both bat and ball against India. Root, renowned for his batting prowess, showcased his bowling skills by claiming five wickets in the recent series, propelling him to a career-high rating and fourth place in the all-rounder rankings, trailing behind Jadeja.
