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After the culmination of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand at the Perth Stadium which was comprehensively won by Australia by 296 runs, some changes in the rankings were observed.
The Indian skipper Virat Kohli with 928 points has stretched his lead at the numero-uno position by 17 points. Number two Steven Smith with 911 points failed to register a fifty-plus score in any of the innings which led the lead to stretch.
Other Indians in the list are, Cheteshwar Pujara with 791 rating points and Ajinkya Rahane with 759 rating points. They hold the fourth and the sixth position on the points table respectively.
One name which has definitely evolved in the batting ranks in recent times is Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne. His intent to break into the top 5 is accomplished as he currently holds the number fifth position, and is the second-highest ranked batsman for Australia after Steven Smith.
In a breakthrough change, Pakistan’s number 4 Babar Azam has made it to the top ten for the first time in his career courtesy his unbeaten 102 vs Sri Lanka in the rain-marred first Test. He has moved from 13th to the 9th position on the points table.
Talking about the bowler’s rankings, Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who is out of action right from the start of the home series against South Africa has dropped to the sixth place.
He is nursing a stress fracture which has kept him out of the game for a while. Australia’s Pat Cummins is currently leading the way and among other Australian bowlers, Mitchell Starch has moved career-best fifth spot, whereas, Josh Hazlewood who got injured during the first Test against the Blackcaps has moved one spot at the 7th position.
Meanwhile, India’s spinning all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have kept their place among the top 10 all-rounders.
Jadeja with 406 rating points is placed 2nd, whereas, Ashwin with 308 rating points is placed 6th in the list headed by West Indies skipper Jason Holder with 473 rating points.