Esterhuizen grabs the limelight in ICC Men’s T20I player rankings

South Africa batter Connor Esterhuizen has taken centre stage in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, registering the second-highest rating points by a player from his country after five matches, following the series win in New Zealand.

The 24-year-old has climbed to 551 rating points, second only to former captain Graeme Smith’s tally of 617 after five matches, with Temba Bavuma (540) and Aiden Markram (530) among the others on the list.

Esterhuizen has surged 64 places to 39th after a productive debut series featuring scores of 45 not out, eight and 15, followed by match-winning knocks of 57 and 75 that earned him two Player of the Match awards. His aggregate of 200 runs also secured the Player of the Series honour, as South Africa sealed a 3-2 series victory.

In terms of rankings, Esterhuizen has the fourth-best place for a South Africa batter after five matches, with Smith having topped the rankings at that stage while Bavuma and Markram were both placed 30th at the same stage of their careers.

Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai has the best rating points aggregate of 697 after five matches, having struck 18, 74, 82, 11 and 162 not out to reach 10th position.

In the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings, South Africa fast bowler Gerald Coetzee’s haul of two for 21 in the decisive fifth T20I in Christchurch has helped him advance 36 slots to joint-52nd position while Ottneil Baartman has progressed from 66th to 56th in the list.

Check Full ICC Player Rankings here