Australia’s batsman Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Starc have achieved career-best Test rankings in the latest update. Labuschagne continued his sublime form going in the first Perth Test against New Zealand as he scored 143 and 50. Subsequently, the right-hander has broken into the top five batsmen for the first time. Labuschange gained three places to occupy fifth place.
On the other hand, Mitchell Starc who scalped nine wickets in the opening Test which Australia won by 296 runs, made a jump of nine positions to take career-best ranking of fifth. Starc was awarded for his spell of 9-97 and he now has a career-best rating of 806. The gun pacer had also achieved fifth place in the ICC Test rankings back in March 2018 but he then had 805 rating points under his belt.
Labuschagne has completed 1000 runs in 2019.
Starc’s opening partner Josh Hazlewood who was ruled out of the Perth Test after suffering a hamstring injury made a gain of one position to go eight to seventh place.
Meanwhile, Travis Head took a leap of two places to take the 32nd position. New Zealand’s veteran batsman Ross Taylor gained five places to take the 11th rank after scores of 80 and 22. On the other hand, Neil Wagner who scalped seven wickets in the Test match made a jump of one position to reclaim the third place.
New Zealand pack leader Tim Southee who took nine wickets climbed three places to take the 10th spot in the rankings ladder.
On the other side, Pakistan’s talented batsman Babar Azam broke into the top 10 rankings for the first time. Azam moved up from 13th place to take the ninth position in the table. Pakistan’s opener Abid Ali who became the first man batsman to score Test as well as ODI debut century made an impressive entry at 78th rank.
Mitchell Starc ⬆️
Tim Southee ⬆️The fast bowlers have been on ? of late and it shows in the recent @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for bowling!
Updated rankings ? https://t.co/HYjKQA6nsf pic.twitter.com/VbBQVS6Co7
— ICC (@ICC) December 16, 2019
