Indian speedster Mohammed Siraj and Australian right-arm bowler Josh Hazlewood have jointly secured the top position in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings. This announcement comes just before the commencement of the much-anticipated cricket event.
Equal Ranking Points for Siraj and Hazlewood
Both fast bowlers have accumulated 669 ranking points. Siraj lost 11 points during the third ODI in the recent India-Australia series, which brought him on par with Hazlewood.
Siraj, who was back in the Indian team for the third ODI, saw a dip in his ranking after conceding 68 runs in nine overs. This allowed Australia to score a hefty 352/7, leading to a crucial win.
Meanwhile, Hazlewood maintained his 669 ranking points after claiming 2/42 in eight overs against India in the same match.
Upcoming Opportunities for Top Spot
Both pacers will have the chance to vie for the top spot in the rankings as India and Australia begin their World Cup journey against each other on 8 October.
Other Contenders in ODI Bowling Rankings
Following Siraj and Hazlewood, Afghanistan’s spin duo Mujeeb Ur Rahman (third place with 657 ranking points) and Rashid Khan (fourth, 655) are the next highest in the ODI bowling rankings.
Shaheen Afridi (632) has moved up two spots to sixth, swapping places with Mitchell Starc (628), who has fallen to eighth. These left-arm bowlers are set to compete in an exciting match when Pakistan and Australia face each other in the World Cup on 20 October.
Mohammad Nabi (621) and Kuldeep Yadav (616) have also exchanged places, with the Afghanistan off-spinner moving up one place into the top-10 of the ODI bowling rankings. Kuldeep will have a chance to regain his top-10 ranking on India’s spin-friendly pitches.
Significant Movements in ODI Batting Rankings
Australian veteran David Warner has made a significant leap within the top-10 of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, following three consecutive half-centuries in India. Warner’s impressive performance, including 56 runs from 34 balls in the third ODI, has propelled him two places higher to equal-fourth with Ireland’s Harry Tector, both on 729 ranking points.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam (857 ranking points) retains the top spot, followed by Shubman Gill (839) and Rassie van der Dussen (743). Meanwhile, Azam’s teammate Imam-ul-Haq (728) slips one place to fifth.
No Changes in ODI All-rounder Rankings
The top-10 of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI All-rounder Rankings remains unchanged, with Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan leading with 349 ranking points, followed by Nabi (302 ranking points).
However, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell is a significant figure in both the all-rounder rankings and Australia’s World Cup aspirations. After recovering from an injury, Maxwell made an immediate impact upon his return, taking 4/40 in the third ODI against India. This performance has seen him rise 10 places to 11th in the all-rounder rankings.