This is a bit of a shock, as Babar Azam has fallen out of the ICC Test top ten rankings. A sure thing that was supposed to be in that elite group was the presence of the experienced Pakistani batter, but now he slumps at No. 12. The 29-year-old lost his form since the beginning of 2023, with evidence of a three-place drop and a big plummeting showing in his ranking.
Babar Azam Falls, Rizwan Rises
This means a setback for Babar Azam, while Mohammad Rizwan is the highest-ranked Test batter now for Pakistan. Rizwan has gained the 10th position because of his stable performance. He is a ray of hope, like a silver lining amidst the ups and downs of Pakistani cricket.
This has also changed the ranking of other Pakistani players. From the 13th to the 20th, Saud Shakeel has gone down, and this reflects that he needs to work more on his game. Salman Ali Agha, on the contrary, has jumped from 40th to 31st. That rise gives indications of his ever-increasing contribution to the Test format.
In the global arena, Joe Root has been enjoying an extraordinary run. His routine staples of solidity in recent performances have seen him build upon his lead in the ICC Test Batter Rankings, now with 922 rating points after registering centuries in back-to-back innings in the second Test against Sri Lanka, a near personal best for July 2022, to go 63 points clear of New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.
Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi Players Make Moves
Gus Atkinson has also appeared in the news for his fabulous all-round performance. Having taken a hundred and five wickets in the same Test match, he managed to jump up the ladder. Atkinson now ranks in the top 20 all-rounders and top 30 bowlers, with all-round capabilities.
Not all have been negative for the Sri Lankan players, though. Kamindu Mendis’ twin half-centuries have propelled him to 25th position. Asitha Fernando’s eight-wicket haul has given him a top-ten spot for bowlers for the very first time, which says something about the quality of Sri Lankan cricket.
The home team’s series victory against Pakistan saw Bangladesh make giant strides up the rankings table. From that side, the 138 by Litton Das sees him shoot up 15 places to 15th position in the batting rankings, while Mehedy Hasan Miraz moved up 33 places in batting to 75th, 31 places in bowling, and seven places to seventh in the all-rounder’s list.
Babar Azam’s Ranking Drop
Pakistani representatives Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana are among the bowlers who have achieved career-best rankings. This rise suggests depth in growth and talent in the Pakistani bowling contingent.
While Babar Azam tries to come to terms with the slide in the rankings, there is enough reason to believe he could bounce back. The fact that he had an excellent record in the past and performed so immensely for Pakistan indicates this could be a mere blip. The cricket fraternity would like to see him get his place back at the top. That is where, therefore, his earnest attempt at doing well begins.
The ICC Test rankings have come with the latest update, telling of a changing landscape. That Babar Azam has fallen out of the top ten is a setback, yet again, it tells one that these rankings can change in a twinkling of an eye. Yet, the scene remains as thrilling and competitive as ever, with glistening stars in Mohammad Rizwan and Joe Root, among others. The emergence of Gus Atkinson introduces fresh zeal into this format.
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