Stellar Mehidy breaks into Top 20 for the first time
© Cricfrenzy
|| Desk Report ||
Mehidy Hasan has become Bangladesh’s highest-ranked bowler in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Player Rankings for Test Bowlers. Following his stellar performance in the second Test against the West Indies, which Bangladesh won by an innings and 184 runs on Sunday, he gained the feat, according to an ICC Press release on Monday.
The 21-year-old off-spinner has leapfrogged Shakib Al Hasan (21st) and Taijul Islam (22nd) to achieve a career-high ranking of 16th after his figures of seven for 58 and five for 59 provided him a lift of 14 places.
Mehidy, who featured in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016 held in Bangladesh, had started the series in 28th position, but had slipped to 30th after the Chittagong Test where he had managed only three wickets.
Mehidy is the only notable gainer in the bowling table, which is headed by Kagiso Rabada of South Africa, and followed by James Anderson of England and Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas.
Shakib may have lost the status of being his side’s highest-ranked bowler, but he has gained seven places to become his team’s highest-ranked batsman.
Shakib scored 80 in his only innings, which has moved him from 28th to 21st position, five places ahead of Mominul Haque, who has dropped two places to 26th position.
Mushfiqur Rahim has plummeted seven places to 28th, but Mahmudullah has vaulted 15 places to a career-high 48th following his contribution of 136 in Bangladesh’s total of 508.
The only good news for the West Indies was the movement of Shimron Hetmyer. Hetmyer, who led his side to the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup title in Bangladesh in 2016, has leaped 28 places to 52nd following scores of 39 and 93.
There is no change to the top-20 batting list, which is headed by India’s Virat Kohli. Steve Smith of Australia and Kane Williamson of New Zealand are second and third, respectively.
