The cricket world has witnessed a significant shakeup in the ranks, as India’s ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has ascended to the pinnacle of the ICC Test bowler rankings. His magnificent bowling performance during the fifth and final Test against England, garnished by a five-wicket haul, has propelled him to the summit. Eclipsing his fellow teammate Jasprit Bumrah, who began the Test as the reigning number one but could only manage to claim two wickets, Ashwin’s total haul of nine wickets has been thoroughly influential in his climb.
Ashwin now proudly exhibits 870 rating points, leaving him comfortably perched atop the rankings. The shift in the leaderboard has seen Bumrah slip to share the second position alongside Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, both currently sporting 847 rating points apiece. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, has edged his way back into the top 10, settling at the 10th spot, a turn of good fortune stemming partly from New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson’s absence in the recent series against Australia.
In a remarkable stride, New Zealand’s Matt Henry has surged ahead by six places to secure the 12th position on the back of his stellar performance against Australia in the second Test. This achievement includes a stunning seven-wicket haul that he secured during the first innings of the match. Among the Indian contingent, the only other bowler to feature within the top 10 is Ravindra Jadeja, who currently has 788 rating points to his name.
James Anderson, the seasoned paceman from England, has also hit a career milestone, recently surpassing the 700-wicket mark in Tests. His sustained excellence in the game has maintained him at the ninth spot in the ICC rankings. In another captivating advancement, India’s spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who secured a five-wicket haul in the first innings against England, has leaped an astonishing 15 places to reach the 16th position. His eyes are set on breaking into the elite tier of the top 10 when India resumes Test play.
The international cricket calendar’s focus is currently shifting away from the longest format, with the only Test series on the horizon being Bangladesh against Sri Lanka, allowing the spotlight to turn towards the T20 World Cup. Once the global showpiece concludes, India is scheduled to host New Zealand and Bangladesh for series in October-November.
In related cricket stories, the PSL 2024 playoffs are bracing for a thrilling encounter as batting titans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are set to cross swords in the Qualifier. Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals orchestrated a unique welcome back for their ace player Rishabh Pant. Elsewhere, young Indian sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal has climbed above Virat Kohli in the ICC Test rankings, and Captain Rohit Sharma vaulted five places after recent performances.
As cricket enthusiasts turn their gaze towards the fast-paced excitement of the T20 format in the upcoming World Cup, the Test arena watches as Ravichandran Ashwin dons the crown of the world’s premier bowler. It’s a testament to the ever-evolving narrative of cricket where every match and every ball bowled can dramatically alter legacies and etch new tales in the annals of this timeless sport.
