India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has moved up to the sixth position in the ICC Test rankings for batsmen. In the recent Border Gavaskar Trophy, though he averaged in the 30s, he ended as India’s second-highest run-getter with three half-centuries.
Often criticised for his slow innings, Pujara batted like a warrior in the fourth Test against Australia to help set the stage for India’s historic win at Australia’s fortress — The Gabba. He took blows to the body, fingers, and head, but did not let the opposition turn the match. Pujara stood tall, defying the Australian bowlers who looked for one opportunity to break into the Indian lower-order.
Babar Azam on the other hand has dropped down to the seventh position with 755 points. Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli retained their first and fourth position in the Test batsman rankings. England’s Ben Stokes has slipped two places down to 10th in the rankings. Australian batting sensation Marnus Labuschagne (878) has moved up to number three riding on his impressive performances in the recently-concluded four-match home Test series against India.
Labuschagne’s team-mate and former Australia captain Steve Smith takes the second spot with 891 points. In the bowler’s rankings, James Anderson has moved one place up to sixth. Last week, Anderson became the second fast bowler after the great Richard Hadlee to take 30 fifers in Test cricket. While the Englishman is the second pacer, he is sixth on the overall list. India’s Ravi Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah have retained their respective eighth and ninth spot in the rankings.
Earlier this week, Ireland all-rounder Paul Stirling gained eight slots in the ODI batting rankings to reach 20th place after scoring 285 runs against Afghanistan which included centuries in the second and third matches. Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz went to fourth, progressing nine spots. He also became the Player of the Match in the second ODI against the West Indies in Mirpur.