Miraz rises, Shakib falls: shifts in ICC test rankings

Mehidy Hasan Miraz has made significant strides in the ICC Test all-rounders' rankings, breaking into the top five for the first time after a stellar performance in the series against India.

Miraz's rise has been powered by both his bowling and batting efforts in recent months. His figures of 77 runs and five wickets in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi set the stage for his breakthrough into the top ranks. In the two-match series against India, although his batting was not as impactful, he managed to take nine wickets, pushing his overall rating to 272, an increase of nine points. Back in August, before the Pakistan series, he had 213 rating points.

Shakib Al Hasan, another key figure in Bangladesh cricket, remains in the top five of the Test all-rounders' rankings, holding steady at third place. The only players ahead of him are India's Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, who occupy the first and second positions, respectively.

However, Shakib has seen a significant drop in his batting rankings. For the first time since January 2010, he has slipped out of the top 50, now sitting in 51st place after falling eight spots. Despite this setback in batting, Shakib has made progress in bowling, moving up five places to 28th in the Test bowling rankings.

Bangladesh's batting prospects

Among the Bangladeshi batsmen, Mominul Haque has made the most significant leap in the rankings. His century in the first innings of the Kanpur Test against India has catapulted him 16 places to 42nd. This resurgence in form has bolstered Bangladesh's middle order, with Mominul once again showing his value in challenging conditions.

Another standout performer from the Kanpur Test was Shadman Islam, who scored a fifty in the second innings. This performance helped him climb 12 spots, reaching 79th in the batting rankings.

Mushfiqur Rahim, although dropping one place, remains Bangladesh's highest-ranked batsman at 24th. Meanwhile, Litton Das has seen a considerable drop, falling seven places from 20th to 27th.

Miraz shines in bowling

In the bowling department, Miraz has also emerged as Bangladesh's top-ranked bowler. After his impressive performances in India, he has jumped four places to reach 18th in the Test bowling rankings, his highest-ever position. This sees him surpassing teammate Taijul Islam, who now sits at 20th.

Despite his progress in bowling, Miraz's batting continues to lag behind, as he is currently ranked 70th among Test batsmen. Nevertheless, his overall impact as an all-rounder has become undeniable, with his rise in the rankings reflecting his growing stature in international cricket.

As Bangladesh continues to rebuild in Test cricket, Miraz's dual contributions with both bat and ball have been pivotal, and his new status among the world's top five all-rounders is a testament to his evolving talent.