Cook rockets up batting rankings

20 Aug 2017 cricket.com.au

Former England skipper moves to sixth on the list of Test batters

England opener Alastair Cook has rocketed up the ICC batting rankings after his sublime double-century in their first-Test thrashing of West Indies at Edgbaston.

Cook compiled a masterful knock of 243 off 407 balls as the hosts declared at 8-514 in the series opener – a total that proved far too great for a struggling Windies outfit.

Cook doubles up as Windies feel the heat

The former skipper’s fourth double-century in Test cricket has seen him climb six spots to sixth on the Test batting charts.

Cook traded places with teammate Jonny Bairstow after the wicketkeeper-batter’s knock of 18 in Birmingham saw him shed 16 ranking points.

Somewhat surprisingly, this is Cook’s highest ranking in more than four years.

Cook, Root fire after new boys stumble

The left-hander’s Test successor Joe Root added some rankings points to his collection after an impressive hundred in his side’s maiden outing against the pink ball, but he still sits 36 points behind his Australian counterpart Steve Smith who will be out to extend his lead at the top of the charts when the series against Bangladesh begins on Sunday.

There is little movement elsewhere amongst the top 10 batters or bowlers, but number-two ranked quick James Anderson has gained ground on leading Test bowler Ravindra Jadeja after picking up five wickets against the Windies.

Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket taker, now finds himself just nine points behind the India spinner.

Broad bests Beefy's mark to climb England ladder

Batters

1. Steve Smith (AUS) – 941 points

2. Joe Root (ENG) – 905

3. Kane Williamson (NZ) – 880

4. Cheteshwar Pujara (IND) – 876

5. Virat Kohli (IND) – 806

6. Alastair Cook (ENG) – 798

7. Azhar Ali (PAK) – 769

8. Hashim Amla (SA) – 764

9. KL Rahul (IND) – 761

10. Ajinkya Rahane – 760

Bowlers

1. Ravindra Jadeja (IND) – 884 points

2. James Anderson (ENG) – 875

3. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) – 852

4. Josh Hazlewood (AUS) – 826

5. Rangana Herath (SL) – 809

6. Kagiso Rabada (SA) – 785

7. Stuart Broad (ENG) – 781

8. Dale Steyn (SA) – 763

9. Vernon Philander (SA) – 751

10. Neil Wagner (NZ) – 745

Allrounders

1. Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) – 431 points

2. Ravindra Jadeja (IND) – 430

3. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) – 422

4. Moeen Ali (ENG) – 403

5. Ben Stokes (ENG) - 348