Khawaja achieves career-high ranking

12 Oct 2018 cricket.com.au

Australian batsman moves up nine spots while Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas jumps eight positions in the bowling rankings

Usman Khawaja has moved into the top-10 ranked Test batsmen for the first time after his match-saving performance in the first Test against Pakistan.

Khawaja silences doubters with epic Dubai century

Khawaja has jumped nine places in the latest ICC rankings to be 10th in the world, the only change in the top 10 that is still led by world No.1 Virat Kohli, who consolidated top spot with a century against the West Indies last week.

Australia's skipper Tim Paine also gained ground, moving up two spots to No.49, while debutant Aaron Finch entered the rankings at 72nd after a fine double of 62 and 49 on debut.

Australia's top-ranked batsman remains suspended former skipper Steve Smith, who is still ranked No.2 in the world more than six months into his 12-month ban. David Warner remains in fifth spot.

On the bowling front, Pakistan quick Mohammad Abbas has been rewarded for his excellent performance in Dubai, gaining eight spots to be equal 13th in the world.

New Australian era dawns with fifth day heroics

Pat Cummins (sixth) and Josh Hazlewood (10th) remain in the top 10 despite missing the first Test due to injury, while left-armer Mitchell Starc has dropped four spots to 18th after taking just one wicket in tough conditions in Dubai.

ICC Top 10 Rankings - Batting

1) Virat Kohli (Ind)
2) Steve Smith (Aus)
3) Kane Williamson (NZ)
4) Joe Root (Eng)
5) David Warner (Aus)
6) Cheteshwar Pujara (Ind)
7) Dimuth Karunaratne (SL)
8) Dinesh Chandimal (SL)
9) Dean Elgar (SA)
10) Usman Khawaja (Aus)

'Proud' Langer praises Khawaja, looks towards second Test

ICC Top 10 Rankings - Bowling

1) James Anderson (Eng)
2) Kagiso Rabada (SA)
3) Vernon Philander (SA)
4) Ravindra Jadeja (Ind)
5) Trent Boult (NZ)
6) Pat Cummins (Aus)
7) Rangana Herath (SL)
8) Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind)
9) Neil Wagner (NZ)
10) Josh Hazlewood (Aus)

Qantas Tour of the UAE

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez

Oct 7-11: First Test, drawn

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi