Cricket news round-up – 28 August: Ben Stokes, Jasprit Bumrah hit rankings high

Ben Stokes, Jasprit Bumrah and Tom Latham were among the big movers in the latest ICC Test rankings, released on Tuesday, August 27, with Stokes hitting career-high positions in both the batters’ and all-rounders’ charts. Elsewhere, Ramesh Powar has a new role, Keemo Paul has recovered from an ankle injury and an Aaron Finch century in the T20 Blast.

Stokes rises to career-best rankings

Following his extraordinary assault on Australia, which helped England win the Ashes encounter at Headingley, Ben Stokes has risen to his career-best places on the ICC Test Rankings – he is No. 13 among batsmen and No. 2 among all-rounders.

Virat Kohli is still the top-ranked Test batsman, but Steven Smith has closed him down after his return to Test cricket, and the gap between stands at just 6 points.

Elsewhere, Tom Latham moved up eight spots to No. 8 on the batting charts, while among the bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah’s incredible 5/7 in Antigua moved him to No. 7, with career-high rating of 774.

Keemo Paul returns for Jamaica Test

Keemo Paul, the West Indies pacer who was left out of the first Test with an ankle injury, has recovered in time and will be available for selection for the second outing in Jamaica.

He is likely to replace Miguel Cummins in the XI – Cummins conceded 69 runs in 20 overs across two innings without taking a wicket in the first Test, as India won by 318 runs.

Squad: Jason Holder (c), Jahmar Hamilton (wk), Shai Hope (wk), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shimron Hetmyer, Shannon Gabriel, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach.

Ramesh Powar appointed India A bowling coach

Ramesh Powar, former India Women head coach, has been appointed bowling coach of India A by the BCCI.

Last year, Powar had an acrimonious exit as India Women coach, following a public spat with ODI captain Mithali Raj. He will now oversee the bowling department of India A, with his first assignment being against South Africa A in a series that’ll comprise both one-dayers and four-day matches.

Powar, who has played 2 Tests and 31 ODIs, was recently invited by the BCCI to the NCA for an elite coaches orientation programme.

T20 Blast round-up

Surrey eased past Somerset by 6 wickets, with Aaron Finch hammering a 53-ball 102* that helped topple the 158-run target in 16.3 overs. Imran Tahir also played a key role for Surrey earlier, picking 4/25 to restrict Somerset to 157/9.

Birmingham Bears saw off Duham by 7 wickets on the DLS Method, after easing past the 152-run target in 18.5 overs of a 19-overs-a-side match. Ed Pollock set things up for Birmingham with a 45-ball 77 after Durham powered to 151/5 with a D’Arcy Short 50.