Scott Boland Breaks Into Top 10 In ICC’s latest Men’s Test Bowling Rankings After BGT Series

January 8, 2025: Scott Boland’s impressive rise in the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings has been one of the standout moments in recent cricket action. The Australian pacer made a significant leap of 29 spots, breaking into the top 10 and sharing the ninth position with India’s Ravindra Jadeja. Boland’s remarkable performance in the Sydney Test against India, where he claimed a 10-wicket haul (4/31 and 6/45), was crucial in Australia’s victory and their reclaiming of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, ending a decade-long drought.

Boland’s performance was particularly notable for how it dismantled the Indian batting line-up on a lively Sydney pitch, helping Australia clinch a 3-1 series victory. His Player of the Match award in Sydney further cemented his place as one of the standout performers of the series. Despite being the fourth pacer in the Australian line-up, Boland’s ability to deliver under pressure was evident, earning him the recognition he now enjoys in the rankings.

Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, also saw a rise, climbing to No. 2 in the Test bowling rankings. He picked up five wickets in the final match, edging closer to Jasprit Bumrah, who holds the top spot with a career-high rating of 908. Bumrah, who had earlier achieved the highest-ever ICC ranking for an Indian bowler, maintained his lead despite missing part of the final Test due to a back spasm, which restricted his role to batting in the second innings.

In terms of batting performances, Rishabh Pant’s blistering knock of 61 from just 33 balls in the second innings of the final Test caught the eye. His explosive innings helped him climb three spots in the batting rankings, moving him to No. 9. Despite the low-scoring nature of the fifth Test, Pant’s aggressive innings provided a much-needed spark.

Meanwhile, in South Africa’s series against Pakistan, Ryan Rickelton’s magnificent double century (259) helped him rise 48 spots in the batting rankings, while Temba Bavuma’s century in the first innings lifted him to No. 6, achieving a career-best rating of 769. Kagiso Rabada’s six-wicket haul moved him up to No. 3 in the bowling rankings, making him one of the top bowlers in world cricket, behind only Cummins and Bumrah.

Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Shan Masood also had notable climbs. Babar’s consistent performance, including half-centuries in both innings, took him to No. 12, while Masood’s fighting 145 in the second innings moved him up to No. 45.

The all-rounder rankings saw Marco Jansen climb two places to No. 2 after his impactful performance in the final Test against Pakistan, which included a brisk half-century and three wickets. He now trails only Ravindra Jadeja, the leader in the all-rounder rankings.

In Zimbabwe’s series against Afghanistan, a historic win for Afghanistan saw several players rise in the rankings. Rahmat Shah’s century moved him up 26 spots to No. 26, while debutant Ismat Alam entered the rankings at joint No. 82. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan also made an impact, taking 11 wickets in the match (including a career-best 7/66 in the second innings), which helped him re-enter the bowling rankings at No. 54.

In the white-ball format, Kusal Perera’s explosive 46-ball 101 in Sri Lanka’s consolation win in the final T20I saw him rise 26 spots to No. 10 in the batting rankings. On the ODI front, Matt Henry’s four-wicket haul in New Zealand’s victory over Sri Lanka moved him to No. 12 in the bowling rankings, while Will Young’s unbeaten 90 helped him climb to joint No. 13 in the batting rankings.

Overall, the latest ICC rankings reflect the excellent performances across multiple formats, highlighting both the consistency and the explosive moments that have defined recent international cricket.