ICC Test Rankings: Babar Azam, Travis Head retain top spot

geourdunews July 12, 2023 in Sports News - 2 Minutes

Pakistan captain Babar Azam (left) and Australian Test batsman Travis Head. - AFP/File — Pakistan captain Babar Azam (left) and Australian Test batsman Travis Head. – AFP/File

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and Australian batsman Travis Head are on course to reach the top spot in the ICC rankings for Test batsmen as they made rapid improvements in separate red-ball series.

Head has now jumped two places to take the second spot with 874 points. According to the latest update released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, he is only nine points lower than New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, who is at the first position with 883 in the rankings for Test batsmen.

Meanwhile, Babar is not far behind as he has jumped three places to reach the third spot in the list with 862 points.

The ICC said in a press release, “Australian star Travis Head is the newest challenger for the No. 1 Test batsman ranking as the in-form left-hander has risen to a career-high second spot in the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings.” ” ,

Head has jumped two places on the back of his impressive Ashes series against England and is second behind New Zealand veteran Kane Williamson, who has already scored 266 runs at an average of 44.33 for the 29-year-old. are taken

“In the most recent Test of that series at Headingley, Head contributed scores of 39 and 77 and was a key reason the visitors came close to recording a third Ashes win in a row.

Head’s climb to the top of the batsmen chart has seen another reshuffle at the top of the batting rankings, with Pakistan captain Babar Azam moving up three places to third and fellow Australians Steve Smith (fourth) and Marnus Labuschagne (fifth) and England’s who have reached the root. (Sixth) All moved up a spot in the thrilling race for top billing.

Head will look to regain the top spot during the remaining two matches of the ongoing Ashes cricket series.

Meanwhile, Azam will look to do the same during the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka this month.

“Pakistan captain Babar Azam has jumped three places to third and fellow Australians Steve Smith (fourth) and Marnus Labuschagne (fifth) and England’s Joe Root (sixth) have all dropped one place to reach the top spot,” the ICC said. In for an exciting run.”