ICC Test Rankings: Smith and Cummins dictate the show
What's the story
Australia's in-form batsman Steve Smith has been in commanding form in the ongoing Ashes 2019. After scores of 144 and 142 in the first Test, Smith scored a valiant 92 at Lord's. His heroics have seen him reclaim the number two spot in the ICC Test Rankings for batsmen. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins has solidified his position in the ICC Test Rankings for bowlers.
Smith Lord's
Smith amassed some strong feats at Lord's
This was the seventh successive score of fifty-plus for Smith against England in Tests. His scores in the last seven innings read 239, 76, 102*, 83, 144, 142 and 92. He also went past 6,500 runs in Test cricket (6,577). The star cricketer also amassed his 25th career Test fifty. Smith now has 2,404 runs in Ashes. This was his seventh career Ashes fifty.
Smith rankings
Smith only behind Kohli now in rankings
Smith, who has amassed 378 runs in just three innings in the ongoing Ashes, has an impressive average of 126. He went past the 900-point mark in the rankings and is only behind Virat Kohli. Smith has 913 rating points and is nine short of Kohli (922) at the moment. Kane Williamson (887) and Cheteshwar Pujara (881) follow suit.
Batsmen
Dimuth Karunaratne gains big, Warner, Khawaja slip
Australia's David Warner hasn't been firing in the current Ashes series. The opener has dropped down to 11th in the rankings for batsmen. Usman Khawaja has also gone down to 20th in the rankings table. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who slammed a fine 122 in the first Test against New Zealand, has moved up to eighth. He has 716 rating points.
Cummins
Cummins gains a hold in the bowling segment
In the bowling section, Pat Cummins, has strengthened his hold on the ICC Test Rankings for Bowlers. He has reached a career-high ranking point of 914. Cummins was excellent in the second Ashes Test as well and picked up six wickets in the game. He now has 107 career Test scalps. The right-arm pacer leads second-placed Kagiso Rabada (851) by a whopping tally.
Information
Fast bowler Archer debuts in at number 83
Among bowlers, England speedster Jofra Archer, who had match figures of 5/91 in his debut Test at Lord's, has broken through in the rankings to 83rd. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who was playing only his sixth Test, climbed eight spots to be number 40.