Keshav Maharaj moves up in ICC Test Rankings

July 24 (CRICKETNMORE) - Keshav Maharaj has returned to the top-20 in the latest ICC Test Player Rankings

Maharaj has been rewarded with a rise of five places following his match figures of 12 for 283, including nine for 129 in the first innings. Maharaj is now ranked 18th in the world and his tally of points (692) is the most for a South Africa spinner since Paul Harris reached 705 in December 2009.

Maharaj was not the only slow bowler to improve his ranking. Sri Lanka off-spinners Dilruwan Perera and Akila Dananjaya have also made upward movements.

Perera, who had figures of four for 40 and two for 90, has jumped two places to 23rd, while Dananjaya has achieved a career-high ranking of 39th (up by 16 places) following figures of five for 52 and two for 67.

Rangana Herath, who took seven wickets in the match, including six for 98 in the second innings, has consolidated his eighth position by narrowing the gap with seventh-ranked Trent Boult to four points after collecting 26 points.

However, there was bad news for South Africa fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn.

After picking up just one wicket, Rabada has fallen from the number-one ranking, which means England’s most successful bowler, James Anderson, will start his country’s 1000th Test as the top-ranked bowler. Rabada had claimed the top-spot from Anderson following the Port Elizabeth Test against Australia earlier this year.

Rabada had entered the Colombo Test leading Anderson by seven points and now trails the Lancastrian by 10 points.

Likewise, Steyn remained wicketless in the Colombo Test. As a result, he has conceded 36 points and dropped five places in the latest rankings. Steyn is now ranked 24th on 635 points, which is his lowest points total since 544 in October 2007.

ICC Test Team Rankings

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ICC Media Release