Pakistan and New Zealand cricketers advance in rankings

Dubai: Pakistan and New Zealand cricketers progressed in the Test rankings following their drawn second Test, according to the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) release Saturday.

Sarfraz Ahmed jumped to a career-best ranking of 18 in the Test batting rankings following his scores of 112 and 24 not out against New Zealand.

Pakistan lead the three-match Test series 1-0 after winning the first match and drawing the second game here Friday. The third and deciding Test will start in Sharjah from Wednesday.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum moved up two places to 19th after his innings of 43 and 45. His team-mate Tom Latham moved up 19 places to 36th position after his second Test century - 137 runs - in the first innings, while Mark Craig has vaulted 28 places into 97th after scores of 43 and 34.

In the Test bowlers rankings, New Zealand’s Trent Boult has climbed three places to the 10th position after taking four wickets for 81 runs in the match.

For Pakistan, Zulfiqar Babar gained three places and is now in a career high 28th spot. Yasir Shah moved up five places to 30th, while Black Caps’ off-spinner Craig is another player to progress, advancing three places to 88th.

The batting table continues to be headed by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, while Dale Steyn leads the bowlers’ list. Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is the number-one ranked all-rounder.

The rankings: Batsmen:

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points Ave HS Rating

1 Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka 915 points

2 A.B de Villiers South Africa 888

3 Shivanarine Chanderpaul West Indies 887

4 Angelo Mathews Sri Lanka 873

5 Hashim Amla South Africa 863

6 Younus Khan Pakistan 862

7 David Warner Australia 858

8 Misbah-ul-Haq Pakistan 805

9 Joe Root England 789

10 Ross Taylor New Zealand 783

Bowlers:

1 Dale Steyn South Africa 907

2 Ryan Harris Australia 853

3 Rangana Herath Sri Lanka

4 Mitchell Johnson Australia

5 James Anderson England

6 Vernon Philander South Africa 785

7 Stuart Broad England 774

8 Kemar Roach West Indies 768

9 Tim Southee New Zealand 758

10 Trent Boult New Zealand 733

All-rounders:

1 Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh 398

2 Ravichandran Ashwin India 357

3 Vernon Philander South Africa 348

4 Stuart Broad England 296

5 Mitchell Johnson Australia 281