Sublime Williamson rises to third in ICC Test rankings

Dubai, Dec.15 : New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson has climbed up to the third spot in the recent ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen after helping his side to a 122-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series in Dunedin.

Williamson, who smashed two brilliant knocks of 88 and 71 in the first Test, is now just two steps behind top-ranked South Africa’s AB de Villiers.

Williamson’s team-mate Martin Guptill has jumped up a remarkable 18 places, after scoring 156 and 46. Guptill was rewarded with only his second man of the match award in Tests.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has also moved up two places to 17th, while his Sri Lanka counterpart Angelo Matthews has marked the visiting side’s presence in the top 10 batsman rankings, down one place to seventh.

Meanwhile, Australia skipper Steven Smith has tumbled three places to fourth and he is now just 11 points ahead of his team-mate David Warner.

Adam Voges’ unbeaten knock of 269 in the first Test has vaulted him 19 places to a career-high 15th place in the latest rankings. Shaun Marsh supported Voges ably, scoring 182, and together the pair added a sixth-highest all time partnership of 449 runs. In the process, Marsh has risen 17 spots to a career best 37th in the batsman rankings.

West Indies Darren Bravo has been rewarded for being the lone centurion from his side, moving up two spots to 25th.

In the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, Australia’s Josh Hazlewood has entered the top 10 by rising up four spots after grabbing seven wickets in Australia’s win over the West Indies, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon has also gained after the win and moved up two spots into 15th after a three-wicket haul in Hobart.

Meanwhile, New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult has retained his sixth place in the ranking after claiming four wickets against Sri Lanka while Dale Steyn maintained pole position.

Rangana Herath’s two wickets were enough to keep him in 10th position. Nuwan Pradeep’s four wickets in the first innings have earned him a six-point rise up the rankings to 53rd.

On the other hand, the all-rounders remained steady in the top four positions, with Ravindra Jadeja managing to clinch career best fifth place. (ANI)