DUBAI: Pakistan middle-order batter Saud Shakeel made a significant gain in his batting rankings as the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, released the latest Test rankings.

The left-handed batter, who made his Test debut in Pakistan’s first Test against England in Rawalpindi, announced himself in the longest format in style as he smashed three half-centuries in just four innings.

Saud, has thus far, accumulated 270 runs in four innings at a hefty average of 67.50 and is currently Pakistan’s top-scorer in the historic series.

Following his remarkable start, the left-handed batter jumped 32 places to secure his career-best 61st place with 488 ranking points.

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who smashed his eighth overall Test century in the Rawalpindi Test, managed to hang on to his third spot, while wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, who is going through a rough patch, slipped four spots and dropped down to the 21st place.

Pakistan ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, on the other hand, who missed the historic home Test series against England due to injury, managed to retain his fifth spot in the Test bowling rankings and is currently the only Pakistan bowler in the Top 10.

Australia’s star batter Marnus Labuschagne continued to reign supreme in the Test batting rankings and added another feather to his cape as he drew level with India’s top batter Virat Kohli’s Test rating record on the all-time list.

 

“In-form Australia star and newly-crowned No.1 Test batter in the world Marnus Labuschagne has added to his bulging resume by drawing level with India great Virat Kohli on the all-time list and bringing up a new career-high rating on the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings,” stated ICC in a press release.

“Labuschagne only claimed the top ranking from England’s Joe Root earlier this month, but the 28-year-old has moved further ahead at the top of the list for Test batters following an outstanding series against the West Indies.

“The right-hander amassed a whopping 502 runs for the two-match series, with his magnificent knock of 163 during the first innings of the second Test in Adelaide helping Labuschagne join Kohli on a career-high rating of 937 points.”

England Test players also enjoyed notable surges in the Test rankings following their series win over Pakistan with Harry Brook climbing 15 places on the Test batting rankings to 55th spot, courtesy of his two centuries against Pakistan in each of the first two Tests.

Whereas, season pacer James Anderson and his fellow youngster Ollie Robbinson got the rewards of their impressive outing against Pakistan as the former soared a place to claim the second spot while the latter jumped three spots to bag his career-best sixth spot.

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