In a remarkable feat, Ravichandran Ashwin, the seasoned off-spinner from India, has reclaimed the pinnacle of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings. This achievement follows his stellar performance in his 100th Test match held in Dharamsala, where he showcased his prowess by clinching a nine-wicket match haul against England.
Ashwin's impressive bowling figures of 4-51 and 5-77 contributed significantly to India's resounding victory by an innings and 64 runs in the fifth Test, culminating in a comprehensive 4-1 series triumph over England. Not only did this win elevate India to the top spot in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship table, but it also reinstated Ashwin as the number one Test bowler, displacing his compatriot and fast-bowling spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah.
This marks Ashwin's sixth stint at the summit of the rankings since his initial ascension to the top position in December 2015. Meanwhile, the accolades didn't stop with Ashwin; Kuldeep Yadav, honored as the Player of the Match, ascended 15 places to achieve a career-best 16th position after a splendid performance yielding seven wickets in the match.
The resurgence wasn't confined to the bowling department alone; India's skipper, Rohit Sharma, climbed five places to claim the sixth spot, while the promising talent of Shubman Gill surged by 11 places to attain a career-best 20th position in the rankings. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal, awarded the Player of the Series, climbed two spots to secure the eighth position after a notable half-century in Dharamsala.
Jaiswal's consistent performances have propelled him to accumulate 740 rating points after just nine Tests, a feat matched only by cricketing legends such as Don Bradman and Mike Hussey. Moreover, England's Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow each moved up a notch in the batting rankings, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir surged 11 places to claim the 71st position.
In another cricketing arena, Australia clinched a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand in Christchurch, propelling them to second place behind India in the WTC table. Noteworthy contributions from players like Alex Carey, whose unbeaten 98 saw him soar from 50th to 38th position, bolstered Australia's triumph.
Meanwhile, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood continued his stellar performance, securing six wickets in the match, including a five-for, to claim the second position behind Ashwin in the bowlers’ rankings. Hazlewood's consistent form has enabled him to equal his best-ever ranking achieved in February 2017.
In the Men’s ODI Rankings, Ireland’s Harry Tector and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Afghanistan made significant strides, while in the T20I Rankings, Muhammad Waseem and Junaid Siddiqui showcased commendable performances, leading to their upward movement in the rankings. Overall, the recent cricketing landscape reflects the dynamic shifts and stellar performances of players across formats, promising an enthralling journey ahead in the world of cricket.
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