Australian batsman Travis Head has achieved a remarkable feat, surpassing renowned players like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to secure a career-best second position in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings.
Head’s exceptional performances during the ongoing Ashes series against England at Headingly have propelled him within striking distance of the formidable Kane Williamson, with just nine points separating them.
Head’s outstanding scores of 39 and 77 in the third Test of the ICC World Test Championship series against England not only boosted his team’s chances but also elevated his ranking. This impressive surge marks a significant ascent for Head, who previously achieved a third-place ranking after his crucial knock of 163 in the ICC World Test Championship Final against India last month.
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The latest rankings update witnessed several changes in the batting rankings, particularly at the top, as five out of the top seven players are currently competing in the gripping Ashes contest. Furthermore, numerous England batters made significant progress in the rankings.
Harry Brook achieved a career-best 12th position following his gritty innings of 75 in the second innings, while captain Ben Stokes returned to the top 20 for the first time since September with his impressive score of 80. Zak Crawley’s commendable contributions of 33 and 44 pushed him up eight places to secure the 48th spot.
Shifting focus to the bowling rankings, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood stole the spotlight with their outstanding performances. Broad’s spectacular display earned him a four-place jump, positioning him in the prestigious sixth spot, thanks to his five-wicket haul in the match.
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Wood, on the other hand, surged an impressive nine places to secure the 26th position, boasting a career-best rating of 591 points after his seven-wicket haul, including a remarkable five-for in the second innings. Additionally, Chris Woakes made a triumphant return to the rankings, reentering at the 36th spot after his outstanding performance of taking three wickets in each innings.
In the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran climbed an astonishing 11 spots to secure the 16th position, showcasing his significant contributions of 142 runs during the team’s thrilling 2-1 series victory over Bangladesh.
Similarly, Rahmanullah Gurbaz made significant progress, leaping an impressive 37 places to claim the 45th spot after leading the series aggregate with a formidable 173 runs. Fazalhaq Faroozi, the Player of the Series, demonstrated his prowess by ascending a staggering 58 places to secure the 33rd position after his magnificent display of eight wickets in the series. Meanwhile, the talented Rashid Khan climbed three places to secure the fourth position.
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Bangladesh also witnessed positive movements in the rankings, with Liton Das rising three places to the 38th spot after his commendable aggregate of 92 runs in the series. Notably, Shakib Al Hasan returned to the top 10 in the bowlers’ rankings, further solidifying his reputation as one of the premier bowlers in the world.
In the most recent weekly update, which also considered performances in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 matches, Max D’Owd of the Netherlands rose five places to secure the 56th spot, while Gajanand Singh of the USA also climbed five places to reach the 59th position in the batting rankings.
In the bowling rankings, Saurabh Netravalkar of the USA made an impressive jump of 13 places to secure the 18th spot, closely followed by Maheesh Theekshana of Sri Lanka, who rose 13 places to reach the 19th position. Lastly, Aayan Afzal Khan of the United Arab Emirates made notable progress, ascending three places to the 46th spot.
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These rankings reflect the dynamic nature of cricket, showcasing the constant rise and fall of players as they strive to leave their mark in the sport’s history. Stay tuned for more exceptional performances on the cricketing stage.
