ICC Test Rankings Update
The impressive performance by Pakistan’s bowling attack has given their international test rankings a real spurt as the beleaguered team makes a comeback of sorts, finally winning a test match against the formidable Aussies.
The main architects of the win that squared the two test Spirit of Cricket series held at neutral venues, was the pace trio led by Mohammad Aamer. They set up a tense three-wicket victory at Headingley, Leeds.
The rookie 18 year old, who was declared player of the match for his figures of 7-106, has leapfrogged 13 places to claim a career-best 38th position in the latest rankings.
The left-arm bowler is still in the qualifying process for a full rating (a bowler is eligible for a full rating once he reaches 100 Test wickets), hence he stands a real chance of moving further up if he continues his rich vein of form especially with the new ball in the four-Test series against England which starts at Trent Bridge on Thursday 29 July.
Besides Aamer, the other two Pakistani fast bowlers who rocked the Australians in the two match series, Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif have also experienced a surge in their rankings.
Gul is in the 16th position while Mohammad Asif and leg-spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 have retained their second and 15th positions, respectively.
There was something to cherish for the batsmen also, as left handed opening duo of Imran Farhat and Salman Butt have been rewarded for their consistent contributions at the top of the innings in the series.
Imran Farhat had a good time in Headingley scoring 43 and 67 in the two innings, which has seen him catapult 12 places into the 34th position.
The captain of the test team, Salman Butt has retained his 32nd position, while Azhar Ali playing in his first test series rocketed 29 places to 58th spot after posting two solid scores of 30 and 51.
The Akmal brothers, who had an ordinary series with the bat have slipped down in the rankings. Wicket-keeper batsman Kamran, has dropped two places to the 39th position while his younger brother and belligerent stroke maker, Umar has slipped four places to 40th spot.
The Australians had an indifferent series, and the only bright spot for them in the two match series is vice-captain Michael Clarke has moved up one place to fourth spot.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 made the jump after scores of 3 and 77 at Headingley. While fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus has jumped seven places to a career-best 24th spot following his five wicket haul for 116 runs in the two innings of the second test.
The victory gives http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
On the other hand third-placed Australia has slipped from 119 ratings points to 116 ratings points which is a mere one point ahead of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 at Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo on Monday.
The hosts are set to clinch the series if they continue their stranglehold on neighboring India.
If the Sri Lankans draw the series they can go ahead of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the Test Championship.
The hosts can also take over the number one spot in test rankings if they record a clean sweep against the Indians which means winning the next two test matches.
Tags: