ICC Test Rankings: Root, Anderson move up in the top 3

ICC Test Rankings: Root, Anderson move up in the top 3: England swing king James Anderson and young batting star Joe Root have climbed up in the test rankings in the latest list released by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The duo played a significant role in England’s 8-wicket win over the Aussies in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Both men have jumped into the top three of their respective disciplines in the ICC Test Rankings. Having scored 63 and 38 not out in both the innings, Root climbed three places to No.3 in the batting rankings while Australia’s Steve Smith retains the number one position ahead of South Africa’s AB de Viliers. Anderson, who took seven wickets and completed 700 wickets in international cricket moved up four places in the bowling rankings to No.2 and is just 80 points behind South African spearhead Dale Steyn.

Despite the heavy defeat in Birmingham, Australian quick Josh Hazlewood gained three places to hold a career-best ranking of 14th, while Nathan Lyon rose one place to be ranked 15th in the ICC Test Rankings. But there was bad news for Mitchell Johnson, with Anderson’s rise pushing the left-armer down to joint fifth alongside Stuart Broad. None of Australia’s top-order batsmen gained any ground in the rankings, with skipper Michael Clarke fell two spots to No.22.

The other big gainers out of the Edgbaston Test were resurgent England duo Ian Bell and Steve Finn. Bell climbed six places to No.30 in the batting rankings, while Finn re-entered the bowling rankings in 19th position after a match-winning haul of eight wickets in his first Test for more than two years. Bell had looked woefully out of touch before this game but found some form with fluent fiftees in both innings. Finn on the other hand looked unplayable at times. With Jimmy out of the next test he will probably lead the attack in Trentbridge.

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