Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is ranked 7th with 824 rating points in the latest Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen, released on Friday.
Hashim Amla of South Africa has climbed up to third position, Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews achieved a career-high sixth position, while Ian Bell of England earned a 19th position, said an ICC press release issued here.
At Rose Bowl, England’s colossal first innings total of 569 for seven declared revolved around Ian Bell’s 167, Gary Ballance’s 156, captain Alastair Cook’s 95 and debutant wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler’s 85. In the second innings, Cook contributed 70 not out, Ballance chipped in with 38 and Bell scored 23. As such, there were no surprises when the latest rankings reflected significant changes to their respective rankings.
Bell has gained five places to return to the top 20 in 19th position, Ballance rocketed 16 places to a career-best 31st spot, Cook moved up seven places to 22nd spot while Buttler made an entry on the table in 63rd spot.
The only positive news for the India batsmen is the improvement in Ajinkya Rahane’s rankings. The middle-order batsman scored 54 and 52 not out to rise nine places to a career-best 26th position.
The top ten batsmen include AB de Villiers (SA, 1st), K.Sangakkara (SL, 2nd), Hashim Amla (SA, 3rd), David Warner (Aus, 4th), Chanderpaul (WI, 5th), Angelo Mathews (SL, 6th), Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak, 7th), Michael Clarke (Aus, 8th), Ross Taylor (NZ, 9th) and C.Pujara (Ind, 10th).
In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, Sri Lanka spinners Rangana Herath is ranked eight and Dilruwan Perera rewarded with a jump of 10 places that has put him in career-best 29th place. England’s James Anderson has moved up one place to seventh, while Moeen Ali stormed 34 places to 38th position. India’s Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have also improved their rankings to 25th and 32nd positions. However, Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan is currently ranked on the 5th spot with 787 points.
The top ten bowlers include: Dale Steyn (SA, 1st), Ryan Harris (Aus, 2nd), Mitchell Johnson (Aus, 3rd), Vernon Philander (SA, 4th), Saeed Ajmal (Pak, 5th), Tim Southee (NZ, 6th), James Anderson (Eng, 7th), Rangana Herath (SL, 8th), Trent Boult (NZ, 9th) and Kemar Roach (WI, 10th).
There is no change in the top five of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test All-rounders with South Africa’s Vernon Philander leading Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh by one ratings point.
