In a dynamic shift in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, West Indies fast-bowler Shamar Joseph and England’s left-arm spinner Tom Hartley have made significant strides following standout performances on the cricket field.
Despite battling a right toe injury, Shamar Joseph’s exceptional seven-wicket haul in the second innings played a pivotal role in West Indies securing a thrilling eight-run victory over Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane, leveling the series at 1-1. This stellar performance has catapulted Joseph to the joint-50th position, a remarkable climb of 42 places. His tally of 397 rating points is the fifth-best by a West Indies bowler after two Tests, with legends such as Colin Croft, Alf Valentine, Wes Hall, and Sonny Ramadhin ahead of him in this esteemed list.
Joseph’s fellow fast bowlers, Kemar Roach (up two places to 17th) and Alzarri Joseph (up four places to 33rd), also made significant progress after contributing with three and six wickets, respectively, in the match.
Meanwhile, West Indies batters Joshua de Silva, Kirk McKenzie, and Kavem Hodge have surged in the batting rankings, moving up 12 places to 60th, nine places to 76th, and a remarkable 98 places to 81st, respectively, showcasing their prowess with the bat against Australia.
On the England front, debutant Tom Hartley left a lasting impression with a remarkable seven-wicket haul in the second innings of the opening Test against India, ultimately contributing to England’s 28-run victory. At 24 years old, Hartley now stands in 63rd position with 332 rating points, marking the best debut performance by any England bowler since John Lever achieved 393 points in 1976.
England’s premier batter Joe Root’s part-time off-spin bowling has elevated him eight places to 54th among bowlers after his notable five-wicket performance in the match. Vice-captain Ollie Pope’s outstanding second innings knock of 196 has propelled him 20 positions to a career-best 15th, while opener Ben Duckett has advanced five places to 22nd after contributing useful scores at the top of the order.
Indian batters KL Rahul (up three places to 51st) and Yashaswi Jaiswal (up three places to 66th) have seen upward movements in the rankings after their impactful performances in the first innings.
Jasprit Bumrah, India’s fast-bowling spearhead, has climbed one place to fourth after finishing with six wickets in the match. Left-arm spin all-rounder Axar Patel has shown progress in both batting and bowling rankings, moving from 51st to 50th and from 33rd to 31st, respectively.
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These rankings reflect the dynamic shifts and stellar individual performances witnessed in recent Test matches, adding excitement to the cricketing landscape.
-IANS
