Markram Leads South Africa Stars With Huge Gains In Test Tankings After WTC Win

Aiden Markram climbed to 11th in ICC Men's Test batting rankings as David Bedingham and Lungi Ngidi also improved their rankings.
Right-handed opener Aiden Markram is among the South African players who have seen an improvement in the ICC Men's Test rankings after winning the World Test Championship (WTC) at Lord's.
Markram, who scored a match-winning 136 off 207 balls in the chase of 282 against Australia, has climbed seven places to eleventh in the men's Test batting rankings. He is now only two points behind New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, who is in 10th place with 725 rating points. Markram, who also took a couple of crucial wickets for South Africa, has been significantly rewarded in the all-rounder rankings, rising a remarkable 44 places.
David Bedingham, who was at the crease when South Africa secured the famous win, has ascended 17 places in the batting rankings to 40th, alongside Australia all-rounder Cameron Green.
South Africa fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who delivered a blistering spell during Australia's second innings, has moved up seven spots to share 37th place in the bowlers' rankings with fellow quicks Lahiru Kumara and Naseem Shah. His teammate, pace-bowling spearhead Kagiso Rabada, has maintained his second place among the bowlers, next to India's Jasprit Bumrah.
For Australia, left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, who took five wickets and scored a fighting half-century in the second innings, has climbed to 10th spot in both the bowling and all-rounders' rankings. All-rounder Beau Webster, who was Australia's top scorer in the first innings, has risen 13 places in the batting rankings.
Australia will begin their three-match Test tour of the West Indies later this month, with matches scheduled in Barbados, Grenada, and Jamaica. Meanwhile, the championship-winning South African players and support staff will return home on Wednesday. They will address a press conference upon arriving at the OR Tambo International Airport, before taking a break and regrouping for a two-match Test series in Zimbabwe.
(With inputs from IANS)
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Ritayan Basu
First Published:
June 18, 2025, 15:03 IST

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