Rankings bonanza for India as Bumrah returns to No.1

Jasprit Bumrah’s superb efforts against Australia in Perth has seen the star India pacer obtain a new career-best rating and regain his place as the No.1 ranked player on the latest ICC Men’s Test Bowler Rankings.

Bumrah collected eight wickets during India’s impressive 295-run triumph in the ICC World Test Championship series opener to claim Player-of-the-Match honours and the in-form right-armer also climbed two spots and ahead of South Africa quick Kagiso Rabada and Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood to reclaim his mantle as the top-ranked bowler in Test cricket.

Bumrah first rose to the top in February this year on the back of a nine-wicket haul against England and briefly returned to the premier position in October following some decent efforts against Bangladesh, only to be overtaken by Rabada in recent weeks.

India teammate Mohammed Siraj also makes some ground, with the fiery right-armer improving three places to 25th on the list for Test bowlers following his five scalps against the Aussies in Perth.

Outside the top 10, there is a trio of the West Indies pacers on the rise, with Jayden Seales (up three spots to 11th), Kemar Roach (up four places to 17th) and Alzarri Joseph (up three rungs to 29th) all rewarded for their strong efforts in the first Test of their series against Bangladesh in Antigua.

The three fast bowlers combined for 14 wickets during the West Indies victory while Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed climbed 16 places to move up to 51st following his six-wicket haul in the second innings of the same match.

England veteran Joe Root still holds a healthy lead at the top of the Test Batter Rankings but he has a new challenger with India youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal now his closest rival following his excellent century in the second innings against Australia.

(ICC)