Dubai, Dec 24 (NationPress) Players who performed exceptionally in Test victories for Australia and New Zealand saw remarkable advancements in the latest ICC Men’s Player Rankings. Both teams celebrated as Australia established an unassailable 3-0 lead in the home Ashes series against England, while the Black Caps clinched a 2-0 series win over the West Indies in Mount Maunganui.

Such outstanding performances have propelled several Australian players closer to the pinnacle of the Men’s Test batting and bowling rankings.

In Adelaide, Travis Head was instrumental in securing an 82-run victory for his team, scoring 170 off 219 balls in the second innings. This effort elevated Head four positions to joint third (815) in the rankings, sharing the spot with teammate Steve Smith.

Furthermore, Alex Carey’s century in the first innings allowed him to rise six spots in the rankings, landing him in ninth place with a career-high rating of 737.

Meanwhile, across the Tasman, the New Zealand team showcased strong batting skills, achieving victory over the West Indies and concluding the series with a 2-0 triumph.

Rachin Ravindra’s flawless scores of 72 and 46 contributed to a five-place advancement to 13th, while Devon Conway’s remarkable performances of 227 and 100 led him to a career-high ranking of 681, tying for 17th.

Kavem Hodge’s aggressive innings of 123 not out marked an 11-place ascent to 66th, achieving his highest career rating.

On the bowling side, two Australians are now well-positioned to challenge Jasprit Bumrah for the title of top Test bowler. Mitchell Starc currently sits in third, while Pat Cummins climbed four positions to second with a rating of 849, having taken ten wickets in Adelaide, and is just 30 rating points shy of the Indian pacer.

Starc also advanced to third place on the Test all-rounders’ list after contributing with a crucial half-century, tying with Ashes rival Ben Stokes at a rating of 311.

Additionally, the Men’s T20I Player Rankings saw improvements following the recently concluded five-match T20I series between India and South Africa, which India won 3-1.

The final match in Ahmedabad was a spectacle, with the hosts scoring 231 runs in their first innings.

Leading the scoring for India, Tilak Varma achieved 73 off 42 balls, surpassing Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka to secure third place with 805 rating points. Meanwhile, Dewald Brevis’s brisk 31-run innings propelled him into the top 10.

India successfully defended their total, thanks to Jasprit Bumrah's outstanding spell of 2/17 in four overs, making him the only bowler in the match with an economy rate below a run per ball. This performance allowed him to leap ten places, tying for 18th in the bowling rankings with Maheesh Theekshana at 622.

Varun Chakaravarthy’s four-wicket haul solidified his top position in the rankings, with a rating of 804, well ahead of Jacob Duffy in second place with 699.