Kane Williamson has jumped to the third spot, just three points behind South Africa’s AB de Villiers, in the latest ICC Test Rankings released after the Dunedin and Hobart Tests.
Williamson is now only two places shy of becoming the no. 1 ranked batsman in the world, courtesy two consistent knock of 88 and 71, thereby helping New Zealand extend their victorious run at home in Tests to 12, after they defeated Sri Lanka by 122 runs in Dunedin.
Fellow New Zealander Martin Guptill has jumped 18 places after his knocks of 156 and 46, that also earned him his second Man of the Match award in Tests. Sri Lanka’s skipper Angelo Mathews has moved down by one place to seventh, while his opposite number Brendon McCullum has moved up to the 17th spot.
After Hobart, Steven Smith has slipped three places to fourth, just 11 points ahead of his deputy, and the man slated to lead the team against India, David Warner.
While Adam Voges after his marathon knock of 269* and the world record partnership of 449 runs has esclalated by 19 places to a career best ranking of 15, Shaun Marsh too has risen by 17 places also to his best ever ranking of 37.
Darren Bravo, the lone centurion for the West Indies has moved up by two places to 25th.
Joe Root is still the best ranked batsman in the world with 886 ratings, but both Williamson and de Villiers are in contention to challenge that spot, as New Zealand and South Africa play Sri Lanka and England this month.
Although, Root himself has his opportunity to maintain his position when the Boxing-Day Test between England and South Africa begins on December 26, which also clashes with the Australia vs West Indies Test at the MCG.
Hence, all the occupants of the top 5 positons are in for a shuffle come December 30.
ICC Rankings for Test batsmen:
| Rank | Name | Country | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Root | England | 886 |
| 2 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 881 |
| 3 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 878 |
| 4 | Steven Smith | Australia | 874 |
| 5 | David Warner | Australia | 863 |
| 6 | Younus Khan | Pakistan | 826 |
| 7 | Angelo Mathews | Sri Lanka | 814 |
| 8 | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 810 |
| 9 | Alastair Cook | England | 803 |
| 10 | Misbah-ul-Haq | Pakistan | 764 |
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