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International cricket is back after a long break due to Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL). Pakistan are back in Test cricket, where they lost to Bangladesh, and are now hosting Australia for a three-match ODI series. The series stands at 1-1 as it will go to the final game as a decider.
And there have been changes in the latest ICC Player Rankings update due to the Test match between Ireland and New Zealand. The Kiwis have had a good practice match before heading to England for the Test series against the Three Lions, as the first Test is set to begin tomorrow.
Pakistani cricketers have got a tremendous jump in ICC rankings.
Especially in the recent series between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi and Lahore, the bowlers have performed well. Men in Green spinner Abrar Ahmed has been in excellent form in the series and has been rewarded for it. The mystery spinner has jumped seven places to fourth position, a career-high for ICC ODI bowlers with a rating of 633.
The Pakistani spinner has taken two wickets in every match played against the Australian team. Apart from him, ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has also moved up in the rankings; He has jumped four places to 13th in the ICC rankings with a rating of 593. The Pakistan fast bowler took four wickets in two matches, including three wickets in the last game.
Matt Renshaw shines for Australia
Nathan Ellis has also moved up the ladder after his match-winning performance in the second ODI against Pakistan. The Australian fast bowler has moved up 24 places to 44th after taking six wickets in both innings, four wickets in the last game and dismantling Pakistan’s batting order.
Matt Renshaw has been one of the best batsmen for Australia in this series, as it has been difficult to score runs on Pakistan’s turning pitches. The southpaw has scored 61 and 43 runs in the last two matches respectively, which has boosted his ICC rankings. He has risen more than 100 places in the ICC rankings (to 78th) and is showing great future potential for the Australian team.
Cameron Green moved up five places to 63rd after scoring a good half-century in the last game, but Salman Ali Agha dropped out of the top ten, falling five places to 14th. The Pakistan T20I captain has not performed the best in the last two matches and due to this he has gone down.
Rachin Ravindra breaks into top 10 of ICC rankings
While the Kiwis have gained in the ICC rankings in the traditional format due to the Ireland vs New Zealand Test match. Headline star Rachin Ravindra has entered the top ten list of Test batsmen for the first time and is ranked 9th with a rating of 737 after his innings of 121.
Apart from him, Tom Blundell, who was the top scorer in the Test match with 186 runs, has moved up eight places to 40th (575). Ireland’s Mark Adair returned to the rankings list for Test bowlers in 24th place, while Nathan Smith jumped 24 places to 59th, behind his teammate Blair Tickner (54th, up nine places).
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