Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Australian batter Travis Head are quickly progressing towards the top positions in the ICC rankings for Test batters. Both are part of separate ongoing red-ball series.
Travis Head now occupies the second position with 874 points, up two spots. He trails New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, the current top-ranked Test batter with 883 points, by only nine points, according to a recent update from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Babar Azam is also closing in on the top ranks. He advanced three places to the third position, carrying 862 points.
Impact of the Current Test Series
According to an ICC press release, Travis Head’s exceptional performance in the ongoing Ashes series against England has boosted his standing. The 29-year-old Australian has amassed 266 runs with an average of 44.33, contributing significantly to Australia’s near-third consecutive Ashes victory.
These recent developments have caused a reshuffle among the top ranks. With Babar Azam ascending to the third spot, fellow Australians Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and England’s Joe Root have each dropped a place.
Upcoming Matches Could Determine the Top Spot
Travis Head will aim to seize the top spot in the remaining two matches of the ongoing Ashes cricket series. On the other hand, Babar Azam will seek to elevate his ranking in the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
The race for the top billing, according to the ICC, is enthralling as it has resulted in “Pakistan captain Babar Azam jumping three places to third and fellow Australians Steve Smith (fourth) and Marnus Labuschagne (fifth) and England’s Joe Root (sixth) all dropping one spot.”
