Markram surges to career-best ninth spot in Test rankings

Dubai [UAE], April 4 (ANI): South Africa opener Aiden Markram has sustained his surge towards the top during an amazing first year in Test cricket, making his way to career-best ninth position in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Player Rankings for batsmen.

The 23-year-old's knocks of 152 and 37 not only contributed in South Africa's massive 492-run victory over Australia in Johannesburg for a 3-1 Test series win but have also helped him move up six places to the ninth spot in the latest rankings, which also takes into account performances in the drawn second Test between New Zealand and England in Christchurch.

Markram, who led South Africa to victory in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2014, has broken into the top ten for the first time and is now among a select group of 10 cricketers led by Don Bradman who have scored 1,000 runs or more in their first 10 Tests.

Markram's opening partner Dean Elgar too has advanced after scoring 100 runs in the Test including a knock of 81 in the second innings while captain Faf du Plessis (up by five places to 17th) and Temba Bavuma (up by 12 places to 39th) are the other South Africa batsmen to make significant gains.

For Australia, captain Tim Paine has moved up eight places to 53rd position while for England, captain Joe Root (up by one place to third), wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (up by three places to 13th) and Mark Stoneman (up by 14 places to 64th) are the ones to progress.

Not surprisingly, South Africa fast bowlers ruling the roost in Johannesburg sees several of them making the latest rankings update a joyful one.

Pace bowler Vernon Philander's player of the match effort of nine for 51 has lifted him six places to third rank, player of the series Kagiso Rabada remains at the top adding three points to take his tally to 902 while Morne Morkel has finished off on a high.

Morkel, who bowled despite a side strain in the second innings of his last Test, touched 800 rating points for the first time in his career. He is now ranked joint-sixth along with Australia's Pat Cummins, who has risen up from 18th to sixth place with nine wickets in Johannesburg.

33-year-old Morkel, who debuted in the 2006 Boxing Day Test against India in Durban, first broke into the top 10 in January 2010. His consistent performances ensured that he was never ranked lower than 15th from that time till retirement, while enjoying a career-high position of third in November 2010.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's player of the match Tim Southee has moved up three places to take the 13th slot while Stuart Broad has gained five slots to reach 12th place.(ANI)