Marnus Labuschagne Becomes No. 1 Batsman As ICC Announces Latest Test Players Rankings

Australia’s star batter Marnus Labuschagne has achieved the no.1 spot in the latest Test batting rankings announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Labuschagne recently came off a Player of the Match performance in the second Test of the ongoing Ashes 2021-22.

Labuschagne, who made 74 runs in the first innings of the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba in Brisbane, went one better in the day-night encounter in Adelaide. The right-hander scored 103 in the first innings as Australia raked up 473/6d, with David Warner and Steve Smith scoring in 90s.

In the second innings, Labuschagne added 51 runs to his tally as Australia registered a huge 275-run win in the pink ball Test match and go 2-0 up in the series. Thanks to such performances, including the Player of the Match award in the Adelaide Test, Marnus became the no.1 ranked Test batter for the first time in his career.

Joe Root, who has been in runs in both the first two Test matches, fell down to the second spot. Two Indians in Rohit Sharma (5) and Virat Kohli (7) are in the ICC Test rankings. The Test bowling rankings see no changes as Pat Cummins retained the top spot with R Ashwin at the second position.

? Labuschagne dethrones Root
? Starc makes significant gains

Australia stars shine in the latest @MRFWorldwide ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings.

? https://t.co/DNEarZ8zhm pic.twitter.com/W3Aoiy3ARP

— ICC (@ICC) December 22, 2021

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are also no.2 and no.3 in the Test all-rounders rankings which is headed by West Indies’ Jason Holder.

Babar Azam Back As No.1 Ranked T20I Batter; Mohammad Rizwan Surges Ahead

Pakistan captain Babar Azam and his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan have ascended in the CIC T20I batting rankings thanks to a stupendous year with the bat in the format. Babar, who was recently dethroned as the no.1 ranked T20I batter, regained his top spot, along with England’s Dawid Malan.

Mohammad Rizwan, who became the first batter to score 1,000 plus runs in a calendar year in T20Is, moved to the third spot in the rankings. Rizwan also became the first batter to make 2,000 runs in T20 cricket in one calendar year and has justly received accolades for his performances.

KL Rahul is the only Indian in the T20I batting rankings at the 5^th spot.

? Babar Azam surges to the ?
? Mohammad Rizwan into the top three ?

Significant gains for Pakistan batters in the latest @MRFWorldwide ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings ? https://t.co/hBFKXGWUp4 pic.twitter.com/qqUfYsFGkA

— ICC (@ICC) December 22, 2021

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