(Image source from: Twitter.com/BCCI)
India's all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Wednesday expanded his lead to reinforce his position as the top all-rounder in Test cricket, while Abhishek Sharma climbed to the top of the T20 rankings for the first time. According to the newest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, Jadeja increased his score by 117 rating points ahead of the second-place Mehidy Hasan Miraz from Bangladesh, reaching a total of 422 points. Meanwhile, Travis Head's lengthy period at number one concluded after he was absent for the five-match series in the Caribbean, which Australia won 5-0, allowing Indian opener Sharma to ascend to the top T20 spot. The left-handed Sharma now holds 829 rating points, with Head in second place at 814 points. "Jadeja has widened his gap at the top of the all-rounders' rankings after taking four wickets and scoring a determined 107 not out," stated the ICC on their site.
"He has gained 13 rating points, now totaling 422, 117 points ahead of Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan. He has also advanced five ranks to 29th among batsmen and moved up one spot to 14th among bowlers," it continued. Washington Sundar also climbed eight ranks to reach the 65th position after achieving his first Test century and forming a 203-run partnership with Jadeja for the fifth wicket, which secured a notable draw in the fourth Test at Manchester. "Sundar has also progressed eight rankings to joint-13th among all-rounders, having taken two wickets in the match," the ICC noted. Meanwhile, Joe Root increased his lead by 37 points as the highest-ranked batter in Tests, standing ahead of Kane Williamson, while England's captain, Ben Stokes, rose three positions to third among all-rounders, marking his best ranking since December 2022.
Root scored a solid 150 in England's only innings at Manchester, while Stokes took five wickets and contributed significantly with 141 runs. England's bowlers, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes, also improved their standings in the latest rankings. "In the Test bowling rankings, fast bowler Jofra Archer continues his remarkable comeback after four years, claiming three for 73, which moved him up 38 spots to 63rd position," the ICC reported. "Chris Woakes moved up one place to 23rd after taking three wickets in the match, including two early successes in India's second innings," it added. England's Ben Duckett climbed five ranks to the 10th position, Zak Crawley reached 43rd, and Ollie Pope rose to the 24th position, the ICC communicated. The end of the T20I series between Australia and the West Indies saw wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis breaking into the top ten.
"Josh Inglis's 172 runs in the five-match series, which included two half-centuries, moved him up six places to ninth position, while Tim David climbed 12 places to 18th and Cameron Green jumped 64 places to 24th, achieving career-highs," stated the ICC. "For the West Indies, Brandon King improved by nine spots to joint-21st."
