England’s Ollie Pope has ascended to new heights in the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings, courtesy of his heroic performance during the first Test against India.
Pope’s stellar innings of 196 in the second innings not only played a pivotal role in England’s exhilarating 28-run triumph but also propelled him a staggering 20 places up the rankings to secure the 15th position.
This exceptional feat marked Pope’s highest Test score away from home and the fourth-highest individual innings by an England men’s player in a Test in India.
As the cricketing world eagerly awaited the updated rankings on Wednesday, New Zealand’s seasoned campaigner, Kane Williamson, retained his coveted position as the No.1 ranked Test batter globally.
However, the aftermath of England’s triumph in Hyderabad and the conclusion of the drawn series between Australia and the West Indies ushered in a minor reshuffling within the top 10.
Australia’s Usman Khawaja, fueled by a commendable half-century in the second Test against the West Indies at the Gabba, climbed two places to secure the eighth position.
Meanwhile, Ben Duckett, a teammate of Pope, exhibited a commendable performance against India, contributing scores of 35 and 47, leading to a significant leap of five places to reach the 22nd spot.
In the realm of bowling, India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continued his dominance, maintaining the top spot in the Test rankings for bowlers.
His stellar six-wicket haul against England solidified his standing at the summit. Notably, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah made notable strides, gaining a position and surging to the fourth spot after claiming six scalps of his own in the thrilling encounter in Hyderabad.
The West Indies, on the back of their upset victory against Australia, witnessed a surge in their bowlers’ rankings. Kemar Roach climbed two places to secure the 17th position, Alzarri Joseph rose four places to claim the 33rd spot, and Shamar Joseph, named Player of the Match at the Gabba, catapulted an impressive 42 places to share the 50th position.
In the realm of all-rounders, India’s Ravindra Jadeja continued to reign supreme, boasting a healthy lead at the top of the Test all-rounder rankings.
However, a new contender is emerging in the form of England’s Joe Root. While Root is predominantly recognized for his batting prowess, his unexpected heroics with the ball cannot be overlooked.
The 33-year-old secured five wickets against India with his more than handy spin and even took on the role of opening the bowling for England during the second innings.
This exceptional all-round performance has propelled Root to a career-high rating, securing the fourth position behind Jadeja in the updated rankings.
