Australia’s new Test captain Pat Cummins continues to occupy the top spot in the ICC Test Bowlers Rankings while his compatriot Mitchell Starc has made it to the top 10 for the first time since January.
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Australia Batter Marnus Labuschagne has climbed to the top of the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, surpassing England captain Joe Root, who has been on top since August this year. The middle-order batsman has been in scintillating form for the Baggy Greens in the ongoing Ashes series at home. He has scored 228 runs from four innings in the 2021-22 Ashes including a century and two fifties which has helped him to the summit of the ICC rankings for batters. Meanwhile he was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ in the second Test which the Aussies won by 275-runs.
? Labuschagne dethrones Root
? Starc makes significant gainsAustralia stars shine in the latest @MRFWorldwide ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings.
? https://t.co/DNEarZ8zhm pic.twitter.com/W3Aoiy3ARP
— ICC (@ICC) December 22, 2021
The 27-year-old has played 20 Tests and struck 2113 runs including six centuries and 12 fifties with a highest score of 215. Meanwhile his current average of 62.48 is second only to the legendary Don Bradman’s benchmark of 99.94 among players who have batted in 20 innings or more.
In the second Test at Adelaide, the 27-year-old scored his first Ashes century and followed that with a half-century in the second innings (103, 51). His 172-run stand with David Warner helped Australia to overcome an early wobble and get into a strong position. And thereby they went on to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.
Labuschagne was dropped twice by England wicketkeeper Jos Butler on Thursday and Olli Robinson bowled him off a no-ball before trapping him lbw.
Meanwhile he is the ninth player from Australia to have crossed the 900-point mark with the bat, joining the elite group of gentlemen, Sir Donald Bradman, Ricky Ponting, Mathew Hayden, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke etc.
Australia vice captain Steve Smith completed the top 3 with 884 points while Kane Williamson is placed at the fourth spot with 879. India’s new limited overs captain Rohit Sharma is in the fifth spot with David Warner and compatriot Virat Kohli behind him.
Within the bowlers, Australia’s new Test captain Pat Cummins continues to occupy the top spot in the ICC Test Bowlers Rankings while his compatriot Mitchell Starc has made it to the top 10 for the first time since January. India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin occupies the second spot while Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi completes the top 3.
