Bangladesh have made history in the latest ICC Test team rankings, moving up one place to sixth and entering the top six for the first time in their Test cricket history. The rise comes after Bangladesh and Australia shared a two-match Test series 1-1, with Bangladesh producing a memorable victory in the opening match.
The International Cricket Council released its latest Test team rankings on Sunday, August 23. Bangladesh now have 78 rating points, placing them sixth in the world. The achievement marks another significant milestone for a team that played its first Test match only in 2000.
Bangladesh Enter ICC Test Team Rankings Top Six for First Time
Bangladesh’s rise to sixth place follows a historic Test win over Australia in Darwin. In the opening match of the two-Test series, Bangladesh defeated Australia by nine wickets, recording their first-ever Test victory against the Australian side.
The result gave Bangladesh a major boost in the rankings and helped them move ahead of Sri Lanka and Pakistan. However, Australia responded strongly in the second Test, beating Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs. The match ended within two days as Australia’s bowlers dominated the Bangladesh batting line-up.
Despite losing the second Test, Bangladesh’s overall performance in the series was enough to help them reach their highest-ever position in the ICC Test team rankings.
Where Are India and Pakistan in the Test Rankings?
India remain inside the top five and currently occupy fourth position with 104 rating points. The Indian team is in Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series and currently leads the series 1-0.
India secured a convincing 165-run victory in the first Test in Galle. The result has kept India comfortably placed among the leading Test teams in the world.
Sri Lanka are seventh with 76 points, while Pakistan sit eighth with 75 points. Pakistan recently suffered a heavy defeat against England in the first Test at Leeds, losing by an innings and 103 runs.
At the top of the ICC Test team rankings, Australia continue to dominate with 126 rating points. South Africa are second with 119 points, while New Zealand occupy third place with 106 points.
Mitchell Starc Leads Australia’s Rout of Bangladesh
Australia’s dominant second-Test victory was powered by a brilliant performance from Mitchell Starc. The left-arm fast bowler finished the match with 10 wickets for just 51 runs.
Starc took six wickets for 12 runs in Bangladesh’s first innings before adding another four wickets for 39 runs in the second innings. His devastating spell left Bangladesh’s batting struggling throughout the match.
Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon also played important supporting roles, taking three wickets each. Their combined bowling attack helped Australia wrap up the match in just two days.
Bangladesh were dismissed for only 95 runs in 38.3 overs in their second innings. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 31 runs, while Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 29. Apart from the two experienced batters, none of Bangladesh’s other players managed to reach double figures.
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Mitchell Starc Reaches Another Test Cricket Milestone
Starc’s 10-wicket haul was his fourth such performance in Test cricket. The achievement also helped him move past South African fast-bowling great Dale Steyn on the list of Australia’s leading Test wicket-takers.
Starc now has 445 Test wickets and has moved into 10th place among the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket history. His outstanding performance against Bangladesh earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
For Bangladesh, the series ended with mixed emotions. The historic win in Darwin will remain a major moment in the country’s Test cricket history, while the rise to sixth in the ICC Test team rankings gives the team another reason for optimism as it looks to establish itself among the world’s leading Test sides.
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