Sri Lanka’s dynamic left-handed batsman Kusal Perera has jumped an extraordinary 58 points in the ICC latest batting rankings after his match-winning ton at Kingsmead, which is already being rated as one of the best in the modern era.
The left-hander scored 153no out of Sri Lanka’s 304 as they stunned the Proteas to win the first Test by just one wicket. Perera moved from 98th to 40th spot in the rankings.
Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis moved to equal 10th thanks to his scores of 35 and 90 at Kingsmead, the first time he’s been among the top 10 batsmen.
Quinton de Kock moved up four spots to be equal eighth, while India’s Virat Kohli retains top spot.
In bowling, Pat Cummins has become the first Australian since Glenn McGrath to be the No.1 ranked Test bowler in the world, claiming top spot in the latest ICC update.
Cummins and England’s Jimmy Anderson have both moved ahead of South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada after South Africa’s shock loss to Sri Lanka in Durban, with the Australian claiming top spot, Anderson moving to second and Rabada dropping down to third.
