Sri Lanka, Bangladesh players shuffle as Test best hold top ranking positions
As the World Test Championship 2023-2025 takes a backseat for white-ball cricket, including the T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean, the second Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has caused significant changes in the rankings.
Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis and Angelo Mathews made significant strides in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, contributing to their team’s impressive 192-run victory away from home, and securing a 2-0 series sweep in their ICC World Test Championship series.
Mendis, who also won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March, moved up 18 places to 46th position in the batting list after his unbeaten 92-run knock. His three-wicket haul in the second innings also resulted in a 46-spot jump among bowlers. Mathews moved up two places to 25th after scores of 23 and 56, while teammate Kusal Mendis also improved his ranking after scoring 93 in the first innings.
Kamindu Mendis’ Player of the Month accolade
Despite their defeat, Bangladesh opener Zakir Hasan’s first innings half-century helped him climb three places in the Test batting rankings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz moved up from 99th to 88th after a brave 81 not out in the second innings. Mominul Haque gained four slots and is now in 46th position after scoring 83 runs in his two innings.
Dimuth Karunaratne’s drop of one place to eighth was the only movement in the top 10. New Zealand’s Kane Williamson remains the No.1 Test batter heading into the break, holding a 35-point margin over England’s Joe Root. Babar Azam of Pakistan and Daryl Mitchell share the third podium spot.
ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings
The third-wicket run partnership for New Zealand kept them in the game
On the bowling side, Asitha Fernando was the most notable mover in Chittagong, climbing seven places to 27th position after a four-wicket haul in the first innings. Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara also improved their rankings. For Bangladesh, debutant fast bowler Hasan Mahmud entered the Test bowling rankings in 95th position after his six-wicket haul in the match.
ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings
Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya’s three-spot drop to 11th means one-spot moves up for James Anderson, Shaheen Afridi, and Kyle Jamieson. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin holds the top spot on the Test Bowling Rankings, with compatriot Jasprit Bumrah and Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood tied for second.
The top 10 on the Test All-Rounder Rankings remains unchanged after the Chittagong Test match, with India’s Ravindra Jadeja leading the pack. Shakib Al Hasan remains in third after taking four wickets and compiling 51 runs across his two innings in the Test match.
ICC Men’s Test All-Rounder Rankings
Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Ibrahim Zadran of Afghanistan during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023