ICC Test Bowling Rankings: Mohd Siraj earns career-best rankings, R Ashwin retains second spot despite missing two Tests against England- ICC’s latest update in the Test bowling rankings saw Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj earn his career-best ranking while Ravichandran retained his spot at second. After claiming eight wickets at Lord’s Test against England, Siraj now ranks 38th on the ICC Test Bowling Rankings with 465 points. India’s premier off-spinner has seen no fall despite missing out on the two test matches against England in the ongoing series. The 34-year-old has amassed 848 rating points, ahead of New Zealand duo Tim Southee and Neil Wagner and Australia’s Josh Hazlewood.
Ravichandra Ashwin was the highest wicket-taker during the ICC World Test Championship 2019-21 Cycle picking up a staggering 67 wickets. The performance saw him rise to second in the ICC Test Bowling rankings and he has stayed there after the recent update, despite not playing a part in India vs England series so far. Ashwin had 865 rating points after the World Test Championship Final, which has now dropped to 848 due to his absences in the two Tests.
However, Ashwin had built a sizeable lead over Tim Southee and the chasing pack which saw him retain his place. What further helped the Indian off-spinners cause was New Zealand’s lack of cricketing action since the WTC Final, meaning Southee and Wagner have not had red ball action for the past two months.
Similarly, Ashwin retained his place at No.4 in the ICC Test All-rounder’s rankings and is fourth in the latest update by ICC. While Jason Holder continued to extend his lead at the top with a good performance in the West Indies vs Pakistan series, Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja did little to make a change.
James Anderson and Jason Holder make significant gains in the latest @MRFWorldwide ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings for bowling 📈
🔗 https://t.co/OMjjVx5Mgf pic.twitter.com/sTDH9Rr6In
— ICC (@ICC) August 18, 2021
Stokes has taken a sabbatical, and while Jadeja has impressed with the bat, he has been wicketless in both India vs England tests. Shakib Al Hasan and Kylie Jamieson, who follow Ashwin on the list, haven’t themselves played red-ball cricket securing Ashwin’s place in the ICC Test All-rounder rankings.
Ravichandran Ashwin missed both Tests in India vs England series, with Virat Kohli and Co. preferring a four-man pace attack and Ravindra Jadeja as a frontline spinner. After the success, including the famous win at Lord’s, the 34-year-old might have to warm the bench for the upcoming three games as well unless the team management opts for a change in tactic when the series resumes in Headingley on August 25.
