Alastair Cook, Brian Lara, Viv Richards, MCG, Boxing Day Test, Double Hundred
The 33-year-old Alastair Cook returned to score runs. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

An unbeaten double-century from Alastair Cook has earned him a spot in top 10 of MRF Tyres ICC Player Ranking for Test batsmen. The list was released after the culmination of Melbourne and Port Elizabeth Test.

Steven Smith ICC Rankings career-best Sir Donald Bradman
Steven Smith has gained career-best rating after his historic 239 in the Perth Test against England.

The veteran left-handed opener Cook notched up an unbeaten score of 244 runs in his side’s first innings score of 491. Cook jumped nine places to be at the eighth spot at the end of the year. South Africa’s Hashim Amla is tied at the seventh position with 17 points ahead from the former England captain.

Australian skipper Steve Smith claims sole possession of second place for the highest-ever ranking points. Smith bagged two points for his efforts in Melbourne and is now 14 points behind Don Bradman (961) and two points ahead of Len Hutton (945) on the all-time list.

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Alastair Cook Storms Back into ICC's Test Batsmen List

Smith’s scores of 76 and 102 not out have strengthened his place at the top.

Cook was at the fifteenth spot at the start of this while he started the Ashes at 10.

England skipper Joe Root moved one place to be at joint fourth with his counterpart from New Zealand Kane Williamson. Root and Williamson started the year on the third and fourth spot respectively.

David Warner, who started the year in the fifth position is currently at six with his scores of 103 and 86 that earned him 30 points.

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Ashes 2017-18, James Anderson, Slegding, Steven Smith, Australia Vs England
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

There is no change in first nine spots for the MRF Tyres ICC Mens Ranking for Test Bowlers with England’s James Anderson topping the chart.  Anderson had started the year with 810 points in the sixth position and had finished on 892 points in the number-one spot.

While the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rangana Herath finished the year at the third, fourth, and sixth places, respectively, while Australia’s Josh Hazlewood started and finished in the fifth spot.

Also Read: Steve Smith’s Hundred Guides Australia to a Draw at MCG

Alastair Cook Storms Back into ICC's Test Batsmen List
Photo credits: AFP

South African fast bowler Morne Morkel returns in 10th position with a fifer against Zimbabwe in the four-day Test.

All-rounder from Bangladesh Shakib Al Hasan is the number-one ranked all-rounder, and India’s Ravindra Jadeja follows him.

BATSMEN (top 10)

Rank             Player                  Team     Points   Average   

1               Steve Smith                 Aus           947          63.55

2              Virat Kohli                   Ind            893         53.75

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3              C. Pujara                      Ind            873          52.96

4=           Kane Williamson        NZ            855          50.62

Joe Root                      Eng           855           52.45

6             David Warner             Aus           831           48.72

7             Hashim Amla              SA            776            49.61

8            Alastair Cook               Eng          759            46.52

9            Azhar Ali                      Pak           755             46.62

10           D. Chandimal              SL             743             43.94

 

BOWLERS (top 10)

Rank        Player                  Team     Points   Average     

2             Kagiso Rabada          SA           883           22.29

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3             Ravindra Jadeja      Ind           870            23.73

4             R.Ashwin                  Ind           829            25.44

5             Josh Hazlewood      Aus          819             25.60

6             Rangana Herath      SL            799            28.04

7             Neil Wagner             NZ            784           27.87

8             Mitchell Starc         Aus           774            27.52

9             Nathan Lyon          Aus           771             31.60

10            Morne Morkel        SA            753            28.45

 

 

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