Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne has reached his career-best third position in the ICC Test batsmen rankings after a match-winning double-century against New Zealand in Sydney. He has taken a leap of one rank after scores of 215 and 59 that not only made him the ‘Player of the match’ but also helped him clinch the ‘player of the series’ award.
Labuschagne was the highest scorer in the series with 549 runs, while his five previous Test matches that include two at home against Pakistan, has seen him amass 896 runs. He was standing at the 110th rank at the beginning of last year but is now only behind India captain Virat Kohli and compatriot Steve Smith. There are now three Australia batsmen in the top five with opener David Warner gaining two slots after scoring 297 runs in the series.
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Meanwhile, Australia’s fast bowler Mitchell Starc has equaled his career-best fifth position that he previously achieved in March 2018. He scalped as many as 15 wickets in the series against New Zealand. Spinner Nathan Lyon’s 10-wicket haul has helped him advance five places to joint-14th.
For New Zealand, all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme also witnessed has been a notable gainer. He has moved from 47th to 39th among batsmen and from 36th to 34th among bowlers. Matt Henry has moved up three places to 66th among bowlers.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes, ‘Player of the Match’ in the Newlands Test, has made it into the top 10 list for batsmen for the second time in his career after scores of 47 and 72. He took a leap of 5 positions, while his best was ninth, achieved in November last year. He has also caught up with compatriot Moeen Ali at 27th place among bowlers.
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Dom Sibley’s maiden Test century has lifted him 87 places to 80th while fast bowler James Anderson’s record 28th five-wicket haul in the first innings sees him back in the top 10 for bowlers.
Here are the latest ICC Test rankings:
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