Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Sep 2: England fast bowlers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue continued their impressive rise in the latest ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings after playing key roles in England’s commanding 2-0 lead over Pakistan in their ICC World Test Championship series.
Robinson, who was named Player of the Match in both Tests, delivered another outstanding performance at Lord’s, taking four wickets in each innings to finish with match figures of eight for 35.
The right-arm pacer has climbed six places to fifth in the bowling rankings, just one spot below his career-best position of fourth, achieved in February 2023. His latest rise means Robinson has moved up 22 places since the beginning of the series.
Tongue has also made a major surge, rising four places to a career-best 13th after taking five wickets in the match. The England pacer has climbed 20 places during the series.
Pakistan bowlers make gains
Pakistan’s bowlers have also made notable progress despite their team falling behind in the series.
Seamer Mohammad Abbas moved up 10 places to joint-15th after taking nine wickets in the match.
Mohammad Ali climbed 11 places to 81st following his five-wicket haul.
Among the batters, Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel was one of the biggest movers. His second-innings score of 97 lifted him 15 places to 18th, making him the second-highest-ranked Pakistan batter behind captain Babar Azam.
Babar, however, dropped five places to 15th.
England batters Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence also improved their rankings. Cox climbed six places to 76th, while Lawrence gained 10 spots to reach 92nd.
India, Sri Lanka players rise
The latest rankings update also includes performances from the second Test between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo, where several players reached career-best positions.
Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha, who scored centuries in both innings, climbed to a career-best 25th position. The all-rounder has made an impressive start to his Test career, averaging 86.57 with the bat across his first five matches.
India’s Devdutt Padikkal moved up five places to a career-best 54th after scoring 117 in the first innings.
Dhruv Jurel climbed from 83rd to 65th following his unbeaten 115.
Sri Lanka batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara recorded one of the biggest jumps in the rankings. After scoring 80 and 92 in only his second Test, he surged 170 places to 74th.
Kamindu Mendis also returned to the top 10 after scoring a half-century in the second innings.
Among the bowlers, Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando rose four places to 11th, India spinner Manav Suthar climbed four spots to 44th, while Mohammed Siraj moved up one place to 17th.
Brevis breaks into T20I top four
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Dewald Brevis reached a career-best fourth position in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings.
Brevis climbed six places after scoring 75 against Namibia, followed by an unbeaten 75 and 41 against Zimbabwe in the ongoing tri-series in Windhoek.
Namibia’s Jan Frylinck also moved up eight places to 98th among T20I batters.
Zimbabwe pacer Brad Evans gained eight spots to reach 26th in the T20I bowling rankings.