England will move up to second spot in the ICC Test rankings after the conclusion of three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
The Joe Root-led English side followed their 211-run triumph in Galle with a 57-run victory in Pallekele and thereby recorded their first Test series win in Sri Lanka for 17 years. Having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, England will push South Africa down to third in the rankings irrespective of the outcome in the final Test in Colombo, starting on Friday (November 23).
“If England win the Colombo Test, they will finish on 108 points, two more than South Africa, while Sri Lanka’s win will mean England will join South Africa on 106 points but will be ranked above the African side by a fraction of a point. A drawn Test will mean England will finish on 107 points – nine points behind number-one ranked India and one point ahead of South Africa – while Sri Lanka will end on 94 points in this scenario after starting the series on 97 points,” ICC said in a statement on Tuesday (November 20).
India captain Virat Kohli heads the batting rankings, ahead of Australia's Steve Smith, Kane Williamson of New Zealand and Root. In the batting department, Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim achieved a highest-ever position of 18th after his double-century against Zimbabwe in the second Test at Dhaka. He jumped up five places after scoring 219 not out while Brendon Taylor had scored two centuries and leapfrogged 18 places to 27th spot.
New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls has jumped 13 places to a career-high 20th position following his crucial 28 and 55 in a low-scoring thriller against Pakistan. Babar Azam of Pakistan has improved his ranking by 16 places, finishing in 63rd spot following contributions of 62 and 13.
The biggest gainers from the Pallekele Test have been Angelo Mathews and Roshen Silva of Sri Lanka and England’s Ben Foakes. While Mathews has returned to the top 20 in 16th position after moving five places, Silva is now 53rd (up by 25 places) and Foakes is 54th (up by 15 places) only after two Tests.
Veteran England pacer James Anderson leads the bowlers' list, while spinner Jack Leach is up to 43rd after claiming 13 wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka.
(With ICC inputs)
