Career best ranking for Babar as Australia, England and India stars surge

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has risen to a career high Test batter ranking, while wins for Australia, England and India in their respective recent Test matches has seen a host of their stars climb the charts on the latest MRF Tyres ICC Men's Test Player Rankings.

Babar and Steve Smith swap spots as the Pakistan captain closes in on Marnus Labuschagne and up to a career best second (875 rating points) on the back of fifties in the final Test against England.

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Smith, on the other hand, returned scores of 36 and six against South Africa and drops to third, five points behind Babar.

Travis Head continued his purple patch with yet another solid batting display against South Africa. He was one of the very few players who looked at ease on a challenging pitch for batters at The Gabba and played a crucial role in Australia taking the first-innings lead.

Head's 92 off 96 in the first innings was laced with 13 fours and a six and saw him jump into the top five Test batters for the first time, equalling Joe Root at equal fourth on the rankings with 826 rating points. 

Among England players, Ben Stokes (+2 to No.23), Ollie Pope (+1 to No.28) and Player of the Series Harry Brook (+11 and inside the top 50 for the first time at joint No.44) all were rewarded for their fantastic efforts in the final Test against Pakistan that helped them complete a 3-0 whitewash.

In the rankings for Test bowlers, Kagiso Rabada was the only player to make major moves inside the top 10, with the South African pace spearhead climbing four places to No.3 courtesy of four-wicket hauls in each innings of the Brisbane Test.