Shaheen Afridi breaks into top five in latest world rankings

Test cricket
Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has moved into the top five on the Test bowling rankings for the first time in his career.

Afridi took a five-for – and seven in the match – against Bangladesh in the first Test in Chittagong – and has moved into fifth place on the latest rankings.

Afridi overtook James Anderson, Kagiso Rabada and Neil Wagner, but each of these have the opportunity to change that in the coming weeks since they will be involved in Test matches this month.

Wagner should be involved when New Zealand take on India in the second Test against India in Mumbai, starting on Friday.

Anderson is expected to feature in the first Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane, starting on December 9.

Rabada, meanwhile, will spearhead the South Africa attack at home against India, which is scheduled to start on December 16.

Plenty of ranking changes in coming weeks

Another Pakistan bowler Hasan Ali also made significant strides on the rankings, moving up to 11th place after taking seven wickets as well in Chittagong.

Elsewhere, New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson moved up to ninth while Tim Southee moved into touching of second-place Ravichandran Ashwin after taking eight wickets in the drawn first between the two countries.

New Australia captain Pat Cummins remains the top-ranked bowler.

As far as batsmen goes, Tom Latham and Dimuth Karunaratne made the most significant strides on the rankings.

Latham moved up five places to ninth after making 95 and 52 in the drawn first India-New Zealand Test.

Karunaratne gained two places after scores of 147 and 83 in Sri Lanka’s 187-run win over the West Indies last week.


On the rankings for all-rounders, West Indies’ Jason Holder remains the top-ranked although India’s Ravindra Jadeja jumped one place into second.

Jadeja took five wickets and scored a half-century in the first Test against New Zealand.

Shaheen Afridi

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