In the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Test Batting Rankings, Pakistani captain Babar Azam jumped a spot to claim the fourth position. In the recently-concluded two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, he could score just 76 runs but got a fortunate push in the rankings. Babar’s fortunate promotion was a result of the demotion of Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head. Labuschagne and Head were far from their best in the recently-concluded Ashes and their inability to score big in the five-match series, saw them losing crucial rating points. Consequently, Labuschagne slipped three spots to fifth while Head was demoted two spots to the sixth position.

 Last week, Babar Azam slipped to the fifth position after a below-par performance in the first Test against Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s hero with the bat in the second Test against Sri Lanka Abdullah Shafique got the reward for his heroics as he rose 27 spots to 21st. Whereas, Pakistan’s first Test hero Saud Shakeel remained at 15th position with a career-best 705 rating points. Pakistan bowlers were also rewarded as Shaheen Shah Afridi, who made six scalps in two Tests against Sri Lanka, jumped three positions to sixth while his pace partner Naseem Shah climbed up seven spots to equal 37th.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s star with the ball in the second Sri Lanka Test Nauman Ali enjoyed a massive surge as he improved 13 places to 42nd — the most notable among improvers. England produced a strong fightback during the second half of the series to tie the Ashes at 2-2 and a host of their best performers were rewarded on the updated ICC rankings lists. Former skipper Joe Root rises one spot to second on the Test batter rankings with New Zealand veteran Kane Williamson the only player in front of him, while young teammate Harry Brook jumps two places to ninth and a new career-high rating following his 363 runs for the series.

Compatriots Jonny Bairstow (up two places to 17th) and Zak Crawley (up six rungs to equal 29th) also make some ground on the list for batters, while experienced duo Steve Smith (up three places to third) and Usman Khawaja (up one place to seventh) are the Australian players to climb the standings.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)