Marnus rockets up ICC Test rankings

Marnus Labuschange has rocketed up the ICC Test batting rankings on the back of his maiden Test century in Australia’s victory over Pakistan in Brisbane.

Labuschange hammered 185 as Australia triumphed by an innings and five runs in the opening Domain Test, further cementing his position in the national team after an impressive Ashes series.

The 25-year-old Queenslander lifted his ranking from 35th to 14th after his player-of-the-match performance.

It reflects a remarkable rise for Labuschagne, who sat in 95th position when summoned as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith in the Lord’s Ashes Test in August.

He finished the series as Australia’s second-highest run scorer – behind the world’s No.1 batter Steve Smith – with 353 runs at 50.42 and was a model of consistency, posting four half-centuries from seven innings in the drawn series.

Smith remains in top spot after the ICC’s latest rankings update but Virat Kohli made ground on him following his 136 in India’s recent win over Bangladesh.

David Warner, who shared a 129-run stand with Labuschagne across days two and three at the Gabba, said the right-hander was capable of succeeding in all formats.

"He was great to feed off out there, and his energy between the wickets and the way he came out and started, I looked up at the scoreboard and he was on 50 straight away," Warner told cricket.com.au. 

"That's the energy and excitement he brings to the game – he's a fast scorer and I think his white-ball game is going to come into it as well. I think he's definitely a three-format player."

Labuschagne was also in red-hot form in the Marsh One-Day Cup domestic tournament, sharing Player of the Tournament honours with teammate and Queensland captain Usman Khawaja.

Warner (up six places to 17th), Joe Burns (up 11 places to 62nd) and Matthew Wade (up four places to 70th) also improved their rankings, while fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has moved from 13th to joint-ninth on the bowlers’ list.

Kohli’s century against Bangladesh in Kolkata helped him bridge the gap to top-ranked Smith to just three points.

New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling was rewarded with a move from 24th position to 12th as he hammered 205 to help his team beat England by an innings and 65 runs.

Neil Wagner’s eight-wicket match haul has also catapulted him to a career-best third position with 816 points, the third-best by a New Zealand bowler after Richard Hadlee (909 points) and Trent Boult (825).

Australia paceman Pat Cummins maintained top position and sits 68 points clear of South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada.

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

First Test: Australia won by an innings and five runs.

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)