English captain Joe Root and the highest wicket-taking fast bowler in the world James Anderson have been rewarded for their unmatchable outing against India. Both the Englishmen have broken into the top three of the International Cricket Council’s batsmen and bowlers ranking released on 10th February.
Anderson, 39, moved three places up to the third position in the ICC bowlers’ ranking. It is being seen as a reward for his efforts where he ripped through the Indian top order with the help of his devastating reverse swing in the second innings of the Chennai Test.
Among other bowlers, India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah too moved one place each to get to the seventh and eighth place respectively.
Root, on the other hand, moved two places up to get to third position after hitting a mesmerising 218 in the first innings of England, his third century on the trot, which also resulted in two double centuries in three Tests. Other batsmen to gain positions in the top 10 were Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and English all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has conceded his position and now stands at the fifth place.
While Babar, 26, got up to the sixth position after a fifty in the second Test against South Africa, Stokes reached the 9th position after a cameo of 82 runs in the first innings.