Adelaide heroics propel Josh Hazlewood to fifth spot in ICC Test rankings

Adelaide heroics propel Josh Hazlewood to fifth spot in ICC Test rankings
Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood‘s five-wicket haul in Adelaide saw India slump to their lowest ever total in Test cricket. The New South Welshman paired up with Pat Cummins to wreak havoc with the new ball as India were bowled out for a paltry 36. Hazlewood scalped the prize wickets of Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin to notch up the eighth five-wicket haul of his Test career.

The fifer saw Hazlewood leap four spots to seal the fifth spot in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers. The 29-year-old went into the series at the ninth spot with 769 rating points to his name. His six wickets in the pink ball Test shot up his rating points to 805. Hazlewood’s partner in crime, Cummins, bolstered his hold on the top spot. His five wickets in the Test, including a four-wicket haul in the second innings, saw his rating point rise by six points to 910.

Ashwin gains a place while Bumrah slips to ten

Ravichandran Ashwin

India’s most successful bowler in the series opener, Ashwin rose a place in the rankings as he finished at the ninth spot. The veteran off-spinner scalped five wickets in the game, four of which came in the first innings. It is for Ashwin’s brilliance that the visitors could take a lead over Australia. But were not able to capitalise on it owing to a huge batting collapse in their second innings.

Jasprit Bumrah was impressive in his maiden day-night Test as he troubled the hosts with his impeccable line and lengths. Yet the wickets column didn’t reflect his superior effort. And hence he slipped in the recently published rankings. Bumrah dropped two places to ten as he finished the game with only two wickets to his name. Hazlewood’s sudden rise also meant Kagiso Rabada, his teammate Mitchell Starc and England legend James Anderson all dropped a place in the Test rankings.

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