Root rockets up Test batting rankings

Cricket365
August 19, 2014

England's Joe Root has continued his impressive march up the rankings for Test Batsmen, having breaking into the top 10 for the first time in his career.

Root scored an unbeaten 149 at The Oval, his fifth century in 22 Tests, for which he not only won the player of the match award but also got a rise of five places that put him in ninth position.

Root had entered the series against India in 26th position on 610 ratings points. In seven innings of five Tests, the 23-year-old, who also played in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2010 in New Zealand, amassed 518 runs with two centuries and three half-centuries.

He consequently finished in ninth position and on 789 ratings points, thus gaining 17 places and 179 ratings points. Overall, Root climbed 29 places and has earned 231 ratings points in the seven Tests England played this summer.

Root was not the only England batsman to make an upward movement. Captain Alastair Cook, who scored 79, jumped four places to 21st in the latest rankings, while Gary Ballance finished in 24th spot after rising five places following his contribution of 64.

The other notable movement in the top 10 batsmen was from Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, who achieved a career-best third position. Mathews scored 39 and 43 not out in Colombo, and was rewarded with a rise of two places that elevated him into third position.

Outside the top 20, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni finished the series in 28th position after his first innings contribution of 82 earned him four places on the table.

Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed and Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga also impressed with the bat in Colombo. Sarfraz rocketed 29 places to 51st spot after scores of 103 and 55, while Tharanga vaulted 49 places to 52nd after scoring 92 and 45.

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara held the number-one batting position, while AB de Villiers of South Africa was in second spot.

Mahela Jayawardene signed off on his illustrious Test career in 15th position. The right-hander represented Sri Lanka in 149 Tests. At 11,814 runs, he sat in seventh place on the all-time list of most run-getters.

In his final Test, the 37-year-old fell both times to Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal after scoring four and 54. This meant a loss of one place for him on the table. Jayawardena topped the batting chart in November 2009 following his 275 against India in Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, in the rankings for Test Bowlers, Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath achieved a career-best ranking. The left-arm spinner put in a fine performance and recorded figures of nine for 127 and five for 57.

This performance not only gave Sri Lanka a comfortable 105-run victory but also helped him move up two places to third.

Other notable movers included Stuart Broad in eighth (up by one place), Junaid Khan 16th (up by one place), Moeen Ali in 32nd (up by one place) and Chris Jordan in 59th position (up by 36 places).

The bowling table was headed by South Africa's Dale Steyn, who led Australia's Ryan Harris.