Cricket

Deepti Sharma's exceptional bowling performances in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand have propelled her to a career-high ranking in the ICC ODI bowling charts. The Indian all-rounder has surged to the No. 2 spot, surpassing Kate Cross and Megan Schutt, with a rating of 687 points.Sharma's impressive display in the first two ODIs has earned her three wickets and an economical bowling average of 3.42. Her consistent performances have significantly boosted her ranking, although she remains 83 points behind the top-ranked Sophie Ecclestone.On the T20I bowling table, Sharma maintains her position at No. 3, trailing only Ecclestone and Sadia Iqbal. The Indian star's all-round abilities are also evident in the allrounders' rankings, where she has climbed to No. 4.From the New Zealand side, Lea Tahuhu has made significant progress, moving up three places to No. 12. Amelia Kerr, despite being ruled out of the series due to injury, has gained one spot to No. 13. Sophie Devine has also made a notable jump, rising nine positions to equal 30th among bowlers.Devine's all-round performance in the second ODI, where she scored 79 runs and claimed three wickets, has also elevated her to No. 8 in the ODI batters' rankings. Other New Zealand batters who have improved their positions include Kerr (No. 11), Suzie Bates (joint No. 15), and Maddy Green (No. 18).For India, Jemimah Rodrigues has made a significant gain among the batters, moving up to No. 35 after her crucial contribution in the first ODI victory.The ongoing ODI series between India and New Zealand has witnessed several notable performances, with Deepti Sharma and Sophie Devine emerging as key players for their respective teams. The final match of the series promises to be an exciting contest, with both sides aiming to secure the series victory.

Babar Azam's ODI Ranking Retention Draws Criticism from Former Pakistan Cricketer Basit AliFormer Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his disapproval of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to retain Babar Azam as the top-ranked ODI batter despite his prolonged absence from the format. Ali questioned the logic behind the ranking system and suggested that the ICC may be intentionally hindering Azam's performance.Ali's criticism stems from the fact that Azam has not played an ODI since November 2023. Despite this, he has maintained his position at the top of the rankings, ahead of Indian stars Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli. Ali believes that this ranking is undeserved, especially considering the absence of other top-performing batters like Travis Head (Australia) and Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)."When I saw the ICC ranking (ODI batters), Babar Azam was at the top, number two was Rohit Sharma, number three was Shubman Gill, and then there was Virat Kohli at number four. I did not find it necessary to read the remaining names because I couldn't see Travis Head and Rachin Ravindra. I think the ICC wants that Babar doesn't perform. He would be happy with being the number one-ranked batter in ODIs. Who gives these rankings? On what basis are Babar Azam and Shubman Gill there?" Ali said on his YouTube channel.Ali further questioned the ranking system, highlighting the absence of star batters like Travis Head (Australia) and Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand). He pointed out that these players had performed exceptionally well in the recent ODI World Cup, scoring multiple centuries.Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma has made a significant jump in the rankings, climbing to the second spot after his impressive performance in the three-game ODI series against Sri Lanka. Sharma ended the series as the top scorer with 157 runs, including two half-centuries.

Smriti Mandhana, India's vice-captain, has ascended two positions to claim the third spot in the ICC Women's ODI batting rankings. This surge follows her match-winning century in India's 143-run victory over South Africa in the recently concluded three-match series.Mandhana's impressive performance, which included a maiden century on home soil, has propelled her to a total of 715 points. She now trails Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, who has slipped to second place, and England's Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who has regained the top spot after scoring an unbeaten 124 against Pakistan last month.India's all-rounder Deepti Sharma has also made significant progress, climbing three places to 20th in the batting rankings. Pooja Vastrakar has similarly moved up three positions to 38th.Vastrakar has also made a notable jump in the ODI all-rounders' rankings, rising four places to 18th. South Africa's Marizanne Kapp remains the undisputed No. 1 ODI all-rounder.In the bowling department, Deepti Sharma has moved up one place to fourth after her economical performance in the series opener, where she claimed figures of 2/10. England's Sophie Ecclestone continues to dominate the ODI bowlers' rankings, maintaining a comfortable lead at the top.This surge in rankings for Indian players reflects their impressive performances in the recent series against South Africa. Mandhana's century and Sharma's all-round contributions have been instrumental in India's success.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its annual team rankings update, with Australia claiming the top spot in Test cricket while India continues to dominate white-ball formats.Test Cricket:Australia's triumph in the World Test Championship final against India has propelled them to the summit of the Test rankings. With 124 rating points, they hold a 19-point advantage over third-placed England. India, the runners-up in the World Test Championship, sits in second place with 120 points. The top 10 remains largely unchanged, with South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Bangladesh occupying positions four to nine, respectively.ODI Cricket:Despite losing to Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final, India retains its top ranking in ODI cricket with 122 points. Australia follows closely with 116 points, while South Africa (112), Pakistan (106), and New Zealand (101) complete the top five. England (95) and Sri Lanka (93) are separated by just two rating points in sixth and seventh place, respectively.T20I Cricket:India remains the undisputed leader in T20I cricket with 264 rating points. However, Australia has closed the gap to just seven points, moving up to third place ahead of England. Pakistan has dropped two places to seventh, while Scotland has made a significant jump to 12th position. South Africa (250) has moved up two places to fourth.Key Points:* Australia has surpassed India to become the top-ranked Test team.* India continues to dominate white-ball cricket, holding the top spot in both ODI and T20I formats.* The rankings update considers performances from May 2021 to May 2023, with recent results weighted more heavily.* The top 10 rankings in Test cricket remain largely unchanged, with Australia, India, and England occupying the top three positions.* In ODI cricket, India and Australia remain the top two teams, followed by South Africa, Pakistan, and New Zealand.* India maintains its dominance in T20I cricket, with Australia and England trailing behind.

Chamari Athapaththu's record-breaking performance in Sri Lanka's thrilling ODI victory over South Africa has propelled her to the summit of the ICC's batting rankings for women's ODIs. Athapaththu's unbeaten 195 in just 139 balls shattered several records, including the highest individual score in a successful ODI chase.Chasing South Africa's formidable total of 301 for 5, anchored by Laura Wolvaardt's magnificent 184 not out, Sri Lanka chased down the target in a mere 44.3 overs. Athapaththu's knock was a masterclass in power-hitting, as she smashed 22 fours and 5 sixes.Her innings not only secured a remarkable victory for Sri Lanka but also earned her a career-high rating of 773 on the ICC table. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Athapaththu, who has consistently been among the top performers in women's cricket.Athapaththu's rise to the top has been accompanied by the impressive performances of other batters. Wolvaardt, who had entered the top five in the previous rankings update, has moved up two more spots to third place. Hayley Matthews has also made significant strides, jumping seven spots to reach No. 11 after her match-winning knocks against Pakistan.Among bowlers, Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal has made a notable ascent, moving up six places to enter the top 20. Her impressive returns of 2 for 38 and 1 for 36 against West Indies have earned her recognition as one of the most promising young spinners in the game.The ICC rankings reflect the dynamic nature of women's cricket, with players from various nations showcasing their exceptional skills. Athapaththu's achievement is a testament to her unwavering determination and the growing strength of Sri Lanka's women's cricket team.