DUBAI: Pakistan’s star cricketer and white-ball captain Babar Azam has experienced a slight setback in the latest ICC Test Batting Rankings, slipping one position as of Wednesday’s update.
This shift comes in the wake of remarkable performances by England’s top-order batsmen during their recent Test match against the West Indies. Joe Root, with a stellar 122-run contribution in the second innings, was instrumental in securing a commanding 241-run victory for England. His exceptional display has earned him an additional 12 rating points, placing him within striking distance of the top spot held by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, with just a seven-point difference.
England’s Harry Brook also made headlines, leaping four places to achieve his career-best third position in the ICC Test Batting Rankings, following his century in the same innings. This advancement caused a ripple effect, pushing down several prominent batsmen, including Babar Azam, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, Australia’s Steve Smith, and India’s Rohit Sharma, each by one spot.
Other significant movers in the rankings include England’s Ben Duckett, who surged six places to 16th, and Ollie Pope, who climbed eight positions to 21st. The West Indies saw notable gains as well, with Kraigg Brathwaite moving up two spots to 40th, Joshua Da Silva ascending seven places to 61st, and Kavem Hodge making a remarkable jump of 21 places to 75th.
In the ICC Test Bowling Rankings, England’s Chris Woakes made a notable return to the top 20, rising four places after a strong performance with six wickets in the second Test against the West Indies. Additionally, young spinner Shoaib Bashir made significant strides, climbing 18 places to 53rd after his five-wicket haul in the second innings contributed to England’s victory.
The latest rankings reflect the dynamic nature of international cricket, with impressive individual performances significantly impacting the standings.
