Kevin O’Brien makes impressive entry into ICC Test rankings

Top Story
Kevin O'Brien

Kevin O’Brien made the second best start in terms of rating points for batsmen from sides playing their first Test and the best by a batsman from a debutant side since the first ever Test 141 years ago, after a remarkable performance against Pakistan at Malahide in Dublin helped Ireland put up a resilient display.

The 34-year-old all-rounder produced a knock of 40 in the first innings and a valiant 118 in the second to help Ireland fight back after they were asked to follow-on, eventually losing by five wickets. Kevin O’Brien’s 158 runs in the match helped him to enter the ICC Test Player Rankings in 66th place with a rating of 440 points.

Opener Charles Bannerman of Australia has the best rating of 447 points in a team’s debut Test, scoring 165 not out and four in the first ever cricket Test played between Australia and England in Melbourne in March 1877. Aminul Islam of Bangladesh (432 in 2001) and David Houghton of Zimbabwe (431 in 1992) are third and fourth in the list.

Imam-ul-Haq made his first entry into the ICC Test Player Rankings for batsmen and is ranked 113th

Fast bowler Tim Murtagh has also made a fine start, entering in 67th position among bowlers after a match haul of six for 100, while all-rounder Stuart Thompson has made notable starts in both lists, ranked 125th among batsmen and 88th among bowlers.

As for Pakistan’s debutants, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and left-handed opener Imam-Ul-Haq entered the rankings at 81st and 113th positions, respectively, in the list for batsmen. Faheem scored 83 in the first innings at Malahide while Imam had scores of seven and 74 not out.

Pace bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Amir have moved up the ladder with Abbas gaining eight slots to reach a career-best 29th position and Amir advancing two places to 37th position. Abbas finished with nine for 110 in the match while Amir took five for 72.

Tim Murtagh, who is ranked 67th among bowlers, is highest-ranked Ireland player

In the ICC Test Team Rankings, Pakistan have gained one point after victory in the one-off Test. They remain in seventh position with 87 points while Ireland, who will get a proper ranking only after eight Test matches, have yet to take their first points.

ICC Test Team Rankings (as of 16 May, after the Ireland-Pakistan Test)

Rank Team  Points
1 India 125
2 South Africa 112
3 Australia 106
4 New Zealand 102
5 England 98
6 Sri Lanka 94
7 Pakistan 87
8 Bangladesh 75
9 Windies 67
10 Zimbabwe 2

Also played: Ireland – 1 match, 0 points

Yet to play their first Test: Afghanistan.

(Developed by David Kendix)

Batsmen (top 10)

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Highest Rating
1 ( – ) Steve Smith Aus 929 61.37 947 v SA at Durban 2018
2 ( – ) Virat Kohli Ind 912! 53.40 912 v SA at Johannesburg 2018
3 ( – ) Joe Root Eng 867 52.63 917 v Aus at Trent Bridge 2015
4 ( – ) Kane Williamson NZ 847 50.35 893 v Aus at Perth 2015
5 ( – ) David Warner Aus 820 48.20 880 v NZ at Perth 2015
6 ( – ) AB de Villiers SA 813 50.66 935 v Aus at Port Elizabeth 2014
7 ( – ) Cheteshwar Pujara Ind 810 50.51 888 v SL at Nagpur 2017
8 ( – ) Dean Elgar SA 784! 42.58 784 v Aus at Johannesburg 2018
9 ( – ) Aiden Markram SA 759*! 55.55 759 v Aus at Johannesburg 2018
10 (+1) Hashim Amla SA 726 48.03 907 v Pak at Abu Dhabi 2013


Other selected rankings

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Highest Rating
66= NEW Kevin O’Brien Ire 440*! 79.00 440 v Pak at Malahide 2018
81 (NEW) Faheem Ashraf Pak 392*! 83.00 392 v Ire at Malahadie 2018
100 (=5) Babar Azam Pak 321* 24.90 360 v NZ at Hamilton 2016
113 (NEW) Imam-ul-Haq Pak 274*! 81.00 274 v Ire at Malahide 2018
125 (NEW) S. Thompson Ire 218*! 28.00 218 v Ire at Malahide 2018


Bowlers (top 10)

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Highest Rating
1 ( – ) Kagiso Rabada SA 897 21.59 902 v Aus at Port Elizabeth 2018
2 ( – ) James Anderson Eng 891 27.36 896 v Win at Lord’s 2017
3 ( – ) Vernon Philander SA 845 21.46 912 v Ind at Johannesburg 2013
4 ( – ) Ravindra Jadeja Ind 844 23.73 899 v Aus at Ranchi 2017
5 ( – ) R. Ashwin Ind 803 25.56 904 v Eng at Mumbai 2016
6= ( – ) Morne Morkel SA 800! 27.66 800 v Aus at Johannesburg 2018
( – ) Pat Cummins Aus 800*! 23.81 800 v SA at Johannesburg 2018
8 ( – ) Trent Boult NZ 795 27.84 825 v Eng at Lord’s 2015
9 ( – ) Rangana Herath SL 777 28.18 867 v Zim at Harare 2016
10 ( – ) Neil Wagner NZ 765 28.26 785 v Win at Wellington 2017


Other selected rankings

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Highest Rating
29 (+8) M. Abbas Pak 539*! 18.78 539 v Ire at Malahide 2018
37 (+2) M. Amir Pak 453* 31.95 658 v Eng at Lord’s 2010
67 (NEW) Tim Murtagh Ire 221*! 16.66 221 v Pak at Malahide 2018
88 (NEW) S. Thompson Ire 135*! 23.25 135 v Pak at Malahide 2018
104 (+14) Shadab Khan Pak 73*! 47.8 73 v Ire at Malahide 2018


All-rounders (top 5)

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Highest Rating
1 ( – ) S. Al Hasan Ban 421 489 v Aus at Mirpur 2017
2 ( – ) R. Jadeja Ind 391 438 v SL at Colombo (SSC) 2017
3 ( – ) V. Philander SA 372 376 v Aus at Cape Town 2014
4 ( – ) R. Ashwin Ind 368 493 v Eng at Mohali 2016
5 ( – ) Ben Stokes Eng 329/* 396 v Win at Lord’s 2017


*indicates provisional rating; a batsman qualifies for a full rating after playing 40 Test innings; a bowler qualifies for a full rating when he reaches 100 Test wickets.
! indicates career-highest rating

Latest