Veteran England bowler from James Anderson has once again claimed the top spot in the latest ICC Men’s Test Rankings, surpassing Australian Pat Cummins and Indian Ravichandran Ashwin. Anderson’s latest seven-wicket haul in the Test match against New Zealand was instrumental in England’s comprehensive 267-run victory.
This is not the first time that Anderson has held the coveted title of the premier Test bowler. In May 2016, he surpassed teammates Stuart Broad and Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to regain the ICC’s top rankings.
In his successful career, Anderson has already held the No. 1 place six times; his most recent term began in February 2022. Considering his past injuries and the enormous pressure he has experienced to perform, Anderson’s rise to the top is an amazing accomplishment.
Anderson’s improved form is a result of his renewed relationship with England’s new manager, Brendon McCullum. With Anderson playing a key role in most of those victories, England has won 10 of their previous 11 Test matches under McCullum’s leadership.
Anderson’s latest feat has further cemented his status as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. With a total of 682 Test wickets to his name, Anderson is now third on the all-time list, behind legends Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.
James Anderson’s rise to the top of the Test rankings is a testament to his resilience, determination, and his remarkable talent as a fast bowler. As Anderson continues to defy the odds and break new ground, he will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.
CHECK OUT THE TOP 10 LIST OF ICC MEN’S TEST RANKINGS (Bowling Rankings):
| POS | PLAYER | TEAM | RATINGS |
| 1 | James Anderson | England | 866 |
| 2 | Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 864 |
| 3 | Pat Cummins | Australia | 858 |
| 4 | Ollie Robinson | England | 820 |
| 5 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 795 |
| 6 | Shaheen Afridi | Pakistan | 787 |
| 7 | Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 776 |
| 8 | Kyle Jamieson | New Zealand | 765 |
| 9 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | 763 |
| 10 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 735 |
Currently, India spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin is just two points behind Anderson who took the throne of the world’s no. 1 Test bowler after 2018. He had edged past his teammate, Stuart Broad in 2016 and had claimed the no.1 place. As for now, Ashwin can claim the number 1 rank if he bags wickets in the third Test against Australia in Indore.
Also, Read: NZ vs ENG: Matt Henry to make red-ball comeback in 2nd Test
