Scott Boland cracks the top 10 in ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings

Australian pacer Scott Boland has made a significant leap into the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings, following his standout performances in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Despite being the fourth-choice pacer and playing only in the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Boland’s impact was immense. Boland’s Remarkable Rise Boland, named…


Scott Boland cracks the top 10 in ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings

Australian pacer Scott Boland has made a significant leap into the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings, following his standout performances in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Despite being the fourth-choice pacer and playing only in the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Boland’s impact was immense.

Boland’s Remarkable Rise

Boland, named Player of the Match in the Sydney Test, climbed an impressive 29 spots to share the ninth position with India’s Ravindra Jadeja. His extraordinary 10-wicket haul on a lively Sydney pitch proved decisive in Australia’s win, marking their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory in a decade.

Cummins Closing in on Bumrah

Australia captain Pat Cummins also saw gains, moving to the second spot in the rankings after a five-wicket haul in the final Test. He now trails India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who retained the top spot with a career-best 908 points. Bumrah had already set a record for the highest ICC Test Bowling rating for an Indian before the final Test, despite being unable to bowl in the second innings due to a back spasm.

Other Highlights from the Series

  • Rishabh Pant: The Indian wicketkeeper-batter’s explosive 33-ball 61 in the second innings of the fifth Test earned him a three-spot rise to ninth in the batting rankings.
  • Low Scoring Affair: The final Test saw no centuries, with just two half-centuries recorded, emphasizing the bowlers’ dominance.

Other Test Series Updates

  • South Africa vs. Pakistan: South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton leapt 48 spots to No. 55 after a stellar double century. Kagiso Rabada climbed to third among bowlers with a six-wicket haul, while Marco Jansen rose to second in the all-rounder rankings after a strong performance.
  • Afghanistan vs. Zimbabwe: Afghanistan secured a historic series win, with Rashid Khan re-entering the bowling rankings at No.54 after a match-winning 11-wicket haul. Batters Rahmat Shah and Ismat Alam also made significant moves in the rankings.
  • Pakistan’s Struggles: Babar Azam’s consistent half-centuries moved him to 12th in the batting rankings, while Shan Masood’s second-innings 145 propelled him to 45th.

Boland was born at the wrong time, a bit like Stuart MacGill: Brett Lee


White-Ball Rankings Update

  • Kusal Perera: The Sri Lankan batter’s blistering 101 off 46 balls in the final T20I against New Zealand lifted him to 10th in the T20I batting rankings.
  • New Zealand Performers: Matt Henry and Will Young climbed in the ODI rankings after strong performances in the first match against Sri Lanka.

Boland’s rise to the top 10 underscores his value to the Australian Test setup, and the cricketing world will be keenly watching his continued growth.