Sri Lankan players take giant leap: A historic Test series win in South Africa has aided the Sri Lankan players in ICC Test rankings.
A historic 2-0 series victory in South Africa has had direct impact on the Test rankings of the Sri Lankan players. The latest update in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings has seen several cricketers from the island nation making big gains in the list.
Advertisement
The batsman-duo of Kusal Mendis and Oshane Fernando, who stitched together an unbeaten 163-run stand for the third wicket to seal the chase in the second Test at Port Elizabeth, has jumped up in the Test rankings.
While Mendis has reached No. 18 in the list, two-Test old Fernando has jumped 35 spots to reach No. 65. Wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella jumped eight spots to reach No. 37.
Sri Lanka bowlers make merry
Among their bowlers, senior right-arm fast bowler Suranga Lakmal has take a three-spot jump to reach No. 30. The highest wicket-takers in the series in Vishwa Fernando (12 wickets at an average of 18.91, an economy rate of 3.63 and a strike rate of 31.2) and Kasun Rajitha (nine wickets at an average of 23.22, an economy rate of 4.20 and a strike rate of 33.1) have both jumped six and eight spots to reach No. 43 and 51 respectively.
ALSO READ: Twitter celebrates Sri Lanka’s historic series victory against South Africa.
South Africa fast bowler Duanne Olivier, who dismissed seven batsmen at an average of 25.42, an economy rate of 3.49 and a strike rate of 43.7, continues to better his rank at the highest level. Having picked up 48 wickets in 10 Test matches, Olivier has reached No. 19 in the bowler’s rankings.
Having lost to Sri Lanka at home, South Africa have slipped to No. 3 in the team’s rankings. As a result, New Zealand have reached the second spot in the list. In a bid to retain their rank, the Kiwis will need to defeat Bangladesh in the upcoming home series.
In the team’s list, India continued to take hold of the No. 1 rank. Among the batsman, India captain Virat Kohli is still the No. 1 batsman around the world.
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on the Sri Lankan victory below:
Huge achievement by #SriLanka to win an away Test series 2-0 convincingly in #SouthAfrica – They are the 1st Asian team to achieve a Test series win in SA.
After India’s recent Test series win in Australia, this is another proud moment for Asian cricket 👌👏 Hatsoff @OfficialSLC
— Kaushik LM (@LMKMovieManiac) February 24, 2019
Sri Lanka whitewashed South Africa in their own den (2-0) and became the first ever ASIAN SIDE to bag a series win
on South African soil!
Weldone boys!!! @OfficialSLC
A proud moment for all of us ASIANS!#SLvSA#cricket pic.twitter.com/VxukyRAQTD— Chathu’s World_SCians❤ (@chathuranatunga) February 23, 2019
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka have become the first team from Asia to win a Test series in South Africa, after winning 2-0.
🏟 Durban
🏏 Won by 1 Wicket🏟 Port Elizabeth
🏏 Won by 8 Wickets👏 Historic achievement. pic.twitter.com/VryTUXrl4M
— SPORF (@Sporf) February 23, 2019
In the last five years, which of Sri Lanka’s away Test series victories is your favourite?
1) 1-0 win v England in 2014
2) 2-0 win v Pakistan in 2017/18
3) 1-0 win v Bangladesh in 2017/18
4) 2-0 win v South Africa 2018/19 pic.twitter.com/JE7yGFj5N9— ICC (@ICC) February 23, 2019
