Morne Morkel’s five-for against Zimbabwe lifted him into the top 10 of the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings.
It is the first time in two years that Morkel has been in the top 10, but it came at a cost: his elevation dropped his great mate and long-time opening partner Dale Steyn to No 11 on the latest list. That also had the effect of pushing Vernon Philander down one place to No 12.
Steyn has not played since November 2016, when he injured his shoulder in the first Test against Australia, which has kept him on the sidelines while he underwent radical rehabilitation. He was due to play against Zimbabwe in the day-night match, but was ruled out with a viral infection.
It is the first time since 2007 that Steyn has not been ranked in the top 10. He is desperate to get back to action and take the five wickets he needs to overtake Shaun Pollock as the most effective bowler in South Africa’s history.
He leapt into joint eighth position on the ICC rankings after bagging his first 10-wicket haul at the Wanderers, against New Zealand in 2007, and in 2008 hit the No 1 position.
Morkel’s return of five for 21 in Zimbabwe’s first innings lifted him three places, one place ahead of Steyn.
Keshav Maharaj, who took five for 59 in Zimbabwe’s second innings, has gained two places and is now at a career-high 16th position.
Kagiso Rabada remains at No 2, behind James Anderson.
As compensation for Philander’s drop on the bowling list, he rose one place to No 5 among the all-rounders.
BATSMEN
1 ( – ) Steve Smith (Australia) 947 pts, ave: 63.55
2 ( – ) Virat Kohli (India) 893 pts, ave: 53.75
3 ( – ) Cheteshwar Pujara (India)873 pts, ave: 52.96
4= ( – ) Kane Williamson (NZ) 855 pts, ave: 50.62
4= (+1) Joe Root (England) 855 pts, ave: 52.45
6 ( – ) David Warner (Australia) 831 pts, ave: 48.72
7 ( – ) Hashim Amla (SA) 776 pts, ave: 49.6
8 (+9) Alastair Cook (England) 759 pts, ave: 46.52
9 (-1) Azhar Ali(Pakistan) 755 pts, ave: 46.62
10 (-1) Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka) 743 pts, ave: 43.94
13 (-2) Dean Elgar (SA) 722 pts, ave: 42.12
14 ( – ) Faf du Plessis (SA)711 pts, ave: 46.54
15 (-2) Quinton de Kock (SA) 708 pts, ave: 43.83
18 ( – ) AB de Villiers (SA) 689 pts, ave: 50.47
40 (-1) Temba Bavuma (SA) 571 pts, ave: 33.13
54 (+4) Aiden Markram (SA) 492 pts, ave: 95.00
69 (-3) Vernon Philander (SA) 423 pts, ave: 25.44
BOWLERS
1 ( – ) James Anderson ( England) 892 pts, ave: 27.35
2 ( – ) Kagiso Rabada (SA) 883 pts, ave: 22.29
3 ( – ) Ravindra Jadeja (India) 870 pts, ave: 23.73
4 ( – ) Ravichandran Ashwin (India) 829 pts, ave: 25.44
5 ( – ) Josh Hazlewood (Australia) 819 pts, ave: 25.60
6 ( – ) Rangana Herath (Sri Lanks) 799 pts, ave: 28.04
7 ( – ) Neil Wagner (NZ) 784 pts, ave: 27.87
8 ( – ) Mitchell Starc (Australia) 774 pts, ave: 27.52
9 ( – ) Nathan Lyon (Australia) 771 pts, ave: 31.60
10 (+3) Morne Morkel (SA) 753 pts, ave: 28.45
11 (-1) Dale Steyn (SA) 741 pts, ave: 22.30
12 (-1) Vernon Philander (SA) 739 pts, ave: 22.37
16 (+2) Keshav Maharaj (SA) 695 pts, ave: 25.03
48 (-1) Duanne Olivier (SA) 349 pts, ave: 23.11
ALL-ROUNDERS
1 ( – ) Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) 438 pts
2 ( – ) Ravindra Jadeja (India) 415 pts
3 (+1) Ravichandran Ashwin (India) 369 pts
4 (-1) Ben Stokes (England) 366 pts
5 (+1) Vernon Philander (SA) 313 pts
