DUBAI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has dropped one place in the latest ICC Test batting rankings as New Zealand’s Kane Williamson rises to the second spot.
Babar slipped to fifth rank on the Test batters’ chart after the recent rankings update on Wednesday which saw Williamson leapfrogging four places to claim the second position on the list.
Williamson hit an unbeaten 121 to steer his side to a thrilling last-ball victory in the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
He continued his sublime form and scored a brilliant double-century in the first innings of the second test to put Kiwis in a commanding position and complete the series sweep.
“Williamson improved a total of 51 rating points on the weekly update to have a total of 883 points and sit just 32 points behind Labuschagne in the lead” said ICC in a media release.
“The 32-year-old looks to re-claim the No.1 ranking mantle he held after New Zealand’s triumph in the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.”
“It means Steve Smith (third), Joe Root (fourth), Babar Azam (fifth) and Travis Head (sixth) all drop one place,” it added.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has fallen out of the top 10 as his Sri Lankan counterpart Dimuth Karunaratne takes the 10th spot.
