Shaheen Afridi's dominant performance in the recent series against Australia has propelled him back to the top spot in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings. He is joined by his compatriot and team captain Babar Azam, who remains at the top of the ODI batting rankings. Pakistan's bowlers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah also saw significant improvements in their rankings, while other players from England, Bangladesh, and India have also made strides in the T20I rankings.
Shaheen Afridi Regains Top Spot in ICC ODI Bowler Rankings, Babar Azam Remains ODI Batting King
Pakistan's star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has once again claimed the top spot in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings, following his dominant performances in the recent series against Australia. Afridi's resurgence has propelled him back to the pinnacle of ODI bowling, where he had previously occupied the top spot for several months in 2023.
Complementing Afridi's achievement, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam has maintained his position at the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings. Azam's exceptional consistency and prolific run-scoring have cemented his status as the leading batsman in the 50-over format.
Along with Afridi and Azam, Pakistan's bowling contingent also witnessed notable improvements in their rankings. Haris Rauf, who has established himself as a reliable seamer for Pakistan, rose five places to reach 18th in the ODI Bowler Rankings. Meanwhile, Naseem Shah, the young and promising fast bowler, gained 14 places to move up to 32nd in the same list.
In the ICC T20I rankings, several players from England, Bangladesh, and India have made significant strides. England's Ben Stokes, the current captain of the team, rose to the second spot in the T20I all-rounder rankings, thanks to his exceptional batting and bowling exploits. Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, who has been a consistent performer across formats, moved up to sixth position in the T20I all-rounder rankings. From India, Suryakumar Yadav, the flamboyant batter, made a remarkable jump to the second spot in the T20I batting rankings, showcasing his prowess in the shortest format of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When did Shaheen Afridi first reach the top of the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings? Answer: Afridi first became the number one-ranked ODI bowler in February 2023.
2. Who is the current captain of the Pakistan cricket team? Answer: Babar Azam is the current captain of the Pakistan cricket team.
3. What is Haris Rauf's current ranking in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings? Answer: Haris Rauf is currently ranked 18th in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings.
4. Which English player has risen to the second spot in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings? Answer: Ben Stokes, the current England captain, has risen to the second spot in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings.
5. What is Suryakumar Yadav's current ranking in the ICC T20I batting rankings? Answer: Suryakumar Yadav is currently ranked second in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
With stand-in captain Steve Smith and opener Usman Khawaja leading the charge, Australia piled on the runs in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Khawaja scored his maiden Test double-century and Smith continued to add to his tally after joining the 10,000 runs club. The two broke multiple records, including the highest partnership by an Australian pair in Sri Lanka and the second-highest partnership in Test cricket history for Australia. Now, with a strong lead and debutant Josh Inglis adding to the total, Australia looks poised to declare and put Sri Lanka on the back foot.
On Thursday, it was announced that Stefan Bajcetic, a former Liverpool defender, has joined Las Palmas instead of Porto for the remainder of the season. Despite initial plans for him to stay at RB Salzburg until after the Club World Cup, the player was eager for a change. This news comes on a day where two other former Liverpool captains have also made headlines.
Australia's Usman Khawaja put up an impressive performance in his first test debut against Sri Lanka on Thursday, scoring a marathon 232 runs and forming century-plus partnerships with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis to lead his team to a colossal total of 654/6 before declaring their first innings. This marks Australia's highest test total in Asia and is sure to catch the attention of cricket fans worldwide. Don't miss out on this historic match and be sure to subscribe to catch all the action.
In an exciting Elite Group D match in the Ranji Trophy, Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and chose to bowl first against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The match saw a strong performance from Delhi's bowlers, with Railways losing five batters in the first 40 minutes of play. However, Railways' Upendra Yadav's impressive 95 helped his team reach a respectable total of 241. Notably, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli also made an appearance for Delhi, marking his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012.
Australian batter Josh Inglis made a sensational debut in the first Test against Sri Lanka, scoring a blistering 102 runs off just 93 balls on the second day of the match in Galle. Inglis' milestone made him the second-fastest century scorer on Test debut in cricket history, following Shikhar Dhawan's record of 85 balls in 2013. The 29-year-old's impressive performance added to an intriguing trend in Australian cricket, as the last three batters from the country to score a century on debut were all from Western Australia.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc celebrated his birthday in style by reaching a milestone of 700 international wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Test match against Sri Lanka, becoming the sixth-fastest player to do so. Starc's remarkable achievement further solidifies his place in the annals of fast bowling history and puts him alongside other cricketing legends.
In an impressive batting performance, Josh Inglis scored his maiden Test ton on debut for Australia, becoming the third centurion of the innings after Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. Inglis reached the milestone in just 90 balls, the second fastest by a debutant, before eventually falling for 102 runs. His partnership with Khawaja, who achieved his maiden Test double century, helped Australia reach 600 runs before Tea on Day 2 in Galle. Despite the strong batting display, Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya stood out with his career-high 60 overs bowled in an innings.
After surpassing former India wicket-keeper Naman Ojha's record, 38-year-old Sheldon Jackson becomes the top six-hitter in Ranji Trophy history. In his 100th Ranji Trophy appearance, Jackson hit his milestone six against Assam, securing his place as one of only six batters to have smashed over 100-plus Ranji Trophy sixes. With over 6600 runs in the Ranji Trophy, Jackson ranks third among Saurashtra batters, behind Cheteshwar Pujara and Sitanshu Kotak. He was also instrumental in Saurashtra's two title wins, including a match-winning century in the semifinal.
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli's return to first-class cricket after eight years drew over 15,000 fans to Delhi's Kotla stadium, with the crowd growing by the minute. Fans packed the Gautam Gambhir stand and broke barricades in order to watch Kohli in action, with some even coming from out of town just to see him play. Despite some chaotic moments at the gates, the excitement and energy of the crowd was palpable as Delhi took on Railways in the Ranji Trophy.
Australia's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja continue their strong partnership, leading the team to a commanding first-innings score on Day 2 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's bowlers will need to utilize their spinners effectively in order to take wickets and mount a comeback against the dominant Australian batsmen. The playing XIs for both teams have been announced, with some notable players taking the field for the first time in the series. As the game reaches the 150 over mark, Starc knocks a single to long on, further adding to Australia's total.