Sports: Kagiso Rabada is the new No.1 bowler in Test cricket as per the latest ICC rankings. He has trumped India's superstar Jasprit Bumrah to take the numero uno spot following a nine-wicket haul against Bangladesh in the first Test which South Africa won comfortably. Meanwhile, Bumrah has slipped two places to third after not picking up a single wicket in the second Test vs New Zealand in Pune.
Interestingly, Ashwin has also slipped two places to fourth despite picking up five wickets against the Kiwis while his partner-in-crime with the ball, Ravindra Jadeja has also lost two places to eighth. He scalped only three wickets on a helpful surface. This is a huge shuffle in the rankings among bowlers with India's main players suffering directly due to the shocking series loss at the hands of New Zealand.
Last week, even Pakistan defeated England in the third Test to seal the three-match series 2-1 in Rawalpindi and Noman Ali played a crucial role in it. The left-arm spinner picked up nine wickets including a six-fer in the second innings. He has jumped a staggering eight places to enter the top 10 for the first time with the career-best rating points of 759.
His spin twin Sajid Khan has climbed 12 places to finish at 38th place in the latest ICC rankings after accounting for 10 wickets in the third Test against England. Among other players, Josh Hazlewood has benefited without playing and he is now second-best bowler as per the rankings. Bumrah and Ashwin both have a chance to reclaim their top two places with India and New Zealand locking horns in the third Test later this week in Mumbai.
--Advertisement--