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Josh Hazlewood breaks into rankings top 10

by Sandeep Shivam Tuesday 15 December 2015

Josh Hazlewood picked seven wickets in the recently concluded first Test against West Indies in Hobart.

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has broken into the top ten ranks of the International Cricket Council Test player rankings after a superb performance in the first Test against West Indies in Hobart.

After accounting for seven wickets in the first Test in Hobart, Hazlewood has now leaped to a career-best seventh position in the rankings.

Nathan Lyon's three-wicket haul in the Hobart Test has allowed him to move up two places to reach the 15th spot.

Meanwhile Australian captain Steven Smith has slipped down to the fourth place while England’s Joe Root still holds the pole position in the Test batsmen rankings.

Smith is currently 11 points away from David Warner, who is ranked in the fifth place, whereas Adam Voges has laid claim to the 15th spot.

After two fifties against Sri Lanka in the Dunedin Test match New Zealand’s Kane Williamson has ascended to the third spot with just three points separating him from the second ranked AB de Villiers.

Trent Boult has kept his sixth spot in the rankings while Dale Steyn continues to lead the rankings for Test bowlers.

Despite taking just two wickets against New Zealand, Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath also managed to continue his presence at the 10th spot.

Among the all-rounders India’s Ravindra Jadeja has moved into the top five for the first time to seal a career best fifth spot.

New Zealand currently have a chance to move past England and rise to the fifth position in the Test rankings by winning the second Test against Sri Lanka which begins on 18th December in Hamilton.