Root back as No.1 in Test rankings; Australians dominate bowling charts

DUBAI: Star England batter Joe Root reclaimed the top position in the ICC men’s Test rankings within a week of losing it, while India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja climbed to the 34th spot in the latest list released here on Wednesday.

Root’s scores of 104 and 40 in the third Test of the five-match series against India at Lord’s that England won by 22 runs helped him start his eighth stint at the top.

At 34, he is the oldest No.1 Test batter since Kumar Sangakkara in December 2014, when the Sri Lankan was 37.

Root had lost his top spot to compatriot Harry Brook, who has slipped behind Kane Williamson to Among Indian batters, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and vice-captain Rishabh Pant have dropped down a rung each and are currently placed fifth and eighth, respectively, while skipper Shubman Gill has also fallen three places to ninth.

However, Jadeja has risen five places to 34th after scores of 72 and a fighting 61 not out at Lord’s.Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah continues to dominate the Test bowling rankings, retaining the top spot with a commanding 50-point lead over South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada.

Australian quick Scott Boland has made a significant jump, rising six spots to a career-best sixth place.

Bolland, whose 62 wickets in Test cricket have come at just 16.

53 apiece with only ICC Hall of Famers George Lohmann and Sydney Barnes having taken wickets at a better average, joins his four compatriots already in the top 10 — Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc