DUBAI – Australia opener Aaron Finch became the first player in the historyof T20 Internationals to break the 900-point mark as he moved up threeplaces to finish the tri-series in Harare against Pakistan and Zimbabwe asthe top-ranked batsman in the shortest format of the game.
Finch, who captained Australia to the final, had touched the 900-point markfollowing his record-breaking knock of 172 (76b, 10×6, 16×4) againstZimbabwe in Harare on July 3. The 31-year-old from Victoria eventuallyfinished the T20Is (also comprising a one-off against England at Edgbaston)in number-one position on 891 points.
Finch had started the T20Is in fourth position on 763 points and a touraggregate of 391 runs not only helped him leapfrog Babar Azam, Colin Munroand Glen Maxwell, but also earned him 128 points.
The latest rankings, which also take into account India’s 2-0 and 2-1series win against Ireland and England, respectively, Finch leadsPakistan’s left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman by 45 points.Tye rises
In the bowling table, Rashid Khan of Afghanistan and Shadab Khan ofPakistan have retained the top two positions, but there have been a numberof movements down the order with Australia’s Andrew Tye and Billy Stanlake,and England’s trio of Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and David Willey achievingcareer-high rankings.
Tye has risen 41 places to seventh in the latest rankings after taking 12wickets in Harare, Rashid has claimed ninth position after moving up fourplaces, Plunkett has gained 14 places and is now in 11th spot, Willey hasrisen 12 places to 15th and Stanlake’s seven wickets have given him a leapof 60 places that has put him in 19th position.
Pakistan have retained the top position in team rankings with theirtri-series victory while India have overtaken Australia to take secondplace after clinching their three-match series against England 2-1. The topthree sides are now separated by 10 points, while three points separatefourth-ranked England and seventh-ranked West Indies.
Team rankings remain crucial as Australia, plus the next ninehighest-ranked sides, will qualify directly for the 16-team World T20 2020in Australia. The remaining six sides will qualify from the 14-teamQualifier 2019.