Mitchell Starc and Harry Brook Shine in Latest ICC Test Rankings
Starc and Brook Climb ICC Test Rankings
Melbourne, Australia - December 31: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has achieved a career milestone, tying with Pakistan's Noman Ali for the impressive joint-second position in the ICC Test Rankings. Meanwhile, Scott Boland has made a notable advancement, moving up two spots to seventh place among bowlers. Harry Brook, who played a pivotal role with a 41-run innings during the recent Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), has ascended three positions to claim the second spot in the rankings released on Wednesday.
The Boxing Day Ashes Test was remarkable, with fast bowlers claiming all 36 wickets, leading to the match concluding in just two days. England broke their 18-match winless streak in Australia, marking their first Test victory on Australian soil since the 2010/11 series.
Josh Tongue, who was named 'Player of the Match' after taking 5/45 and 2/44, achieved England's first five-wicket haul in a Boxing Day Test this century. The 28-year-old has climbed 13 spots to reach 30th place with 573 rating points, having taken 12 wickets at an average of 18.58 across two matches.
Gus Atkinson, returning to the squad, contributed three wickets in the match, including the crucial dismissal of Travis Head in the first innings, and has moved up four spots to 13th with 698 rating points. Brydon Carse's impressive five-wicket haul, including four in the second innings, has propelled him six places to 23rd.
Atkinson also made a significant contribution with the bat, scoring 28 runs off 35 balls in England's first innings, which has elevated him to eighth in the all-rounder rankings. His captain, Ben Stokes, remains in third place with 316 points.
The MCG pitch proved challenging for batters, but Australian bowlers upheld their high standards, with Starc claiming four wickets and Boland taking five, including three in the first innings.
Starc's performance has allowed him to tie with Noman Ali for second place in the rankings, both with 843 points, while Boland's rise to seventh comes with a rating of 810, marking new career highs for both players. Starc has excelled throughout the series, achieving his best-ever wicket tally with 26 wickets in four matches at an average of 17.42, including best figures of 7/58. Boland has also been effective, taking 16 wickets in four matches at an average of 23.00, featuring a four-wicket haul.
Harry Brook's contributions of 41 runs and an unbeaten 18 to secure England's victory have propelled him to second place in the Test batting rankings with 846 points, as he chases legendary Joe Root, who leads with 867 points. Despite not converting starts into larger scores, Brook is the fifth-highest run-scorer of the series, accumulating 232 runs in four matches and eight innings at an average of 33.14, including one fifty.
As a result of Brook's performance, Australia's Steve Smith (9 and 24* in the match) and Travis Head (12 and 46) have seen their rankings drop, along with New Zealand's Kane Williamson.