Quantcast

Yasir crowned world's No.1 Test bowler

Pakistan leggie's meteoric rise officially acknowledged by latest release of official ICC rankings

Yasir Shah's match-winning performance in Pakistan's thrilling win over England at Lord's has seen him crowned the new world No.1 ranked Test bowler.

Shah's figures of 6-72 and 4-69 at Lord's were enough to knock off England veteran James Anderson and claim the No.1 position in the International Cricket Council rankings for the first time in his 13-Test career.

Quick single: Military precision pushes proud Pakistan

The 30-year-old Pakistan leg-spinner headed into the Test ranked No.4, but vaulted ahead of Anderson, who now dropped to No.3 in the charts after missing the first Test due to a shoulder injury, India's Ravichandran Ashwin (No.2) and England quick Stuart Broad (No.4).

Shah v Warne - who bowled it better?

It's the third time a new No.1 Test bowler has been crowned since January. Broad rose to the top position following the Johannesburg Test against South Africa, only for countryman Anderson to snatch the title after his superb performances against Sri Lanka in Durham in May.

Shah's 10-141 was the best-ever performance by a Pakistan bowler in his maiden Test on English soil and the best by a Pakistan spinner in England, beating Abdul Qadir's 10-211 at the Oval in 1987.

No Pakistan bowler before Shah had taken a 10-fer at Lord's.

He is also the first Pakistan bowler to top rankings since Mushtaq Ahmed achieved the distinction in 1996, while Shane Warne was the last wrist spinner to surge to the number-one position - in 2005. 


Well-drilled Pakistan savour famous win

England’s Chris Woakes' match figures of 11-102 saw him jump 28 places to a career-high 36th position, while Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has returned to the rankings just inside the top 100 in 93rd position. 

Meanwhile, Australia skipper Steve Smith remains the world No.1 Test batsman, with England star Joe Root staying in fourth position after scoring 48 and nine at Lord's.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq rose one spot to ninth after his first-innings century, while Asad Shafiq is on the verge of cracking the top 10, moving up two places to 11th after scores of 73 and 49.

ICC batting rankings

Image Id: ~/media/37CBC36CC5FC495A8F5820B53199FBAF Image Caption: ICC Batting Rankings // ICC

ICC bowling rankings

Image Id: ~/media/DE590DB6203443A2A33AF53DB6DC8075 Image Caption: ICC Bowling Rankings // ICC