Predicting the Top 20 Batsmen in the ICC Test Rankings a Year from Now
If a week is considered a long time in politics, then in cricket a year must seem like an eternity for players, especially those with bat in hand given just how elusive their form can be even from one day to the very next.
However, having looked into our crystal ball, these are how we predict the top 20 batsmen in the International Cricket Council Test rankings will look come 12 months’ from now…
20. Gary Ballance (England)
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Gary Ballance only made his Test debut for England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January, but already the left-hander is up to No. 23 in the ICC world rankings on the back of a stunning summer with the bat—including three tons—at home to both Sri Lanka and India.
And do not be surprised if the Yorkshireman continues moving up the standings at the same rate after facing the less-than-testing bowling attacks of West Indies and New Zealand next year, before a real test of character then awaits him when Australia arrive for the Ashes in July.
19. Virat Kohli (India)
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It is incredible to think that only last February, Virat Kohli was ranked the eighth-best batsman in the world by the ICC before the silky-smooth India right-hander then lost his way in England so badly last summer that he slumped 17 places in the standings.
But it would be odd were the 25-year-old not to regain some semblance of form when West Indies arrive on the subcontinent in October, while Australia’s hard and bouncy pitches—where his country tours this Christmas—should at least see him make a return to the top 20.
18. Ian Bell (England)
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Expect no change in the current ICC world ranking of elegant England batsman Ian Bell come a year’s time after his country face a two-match series in West Indies in April and May, followed by the visit of Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand and Australia next summer.
All of which points towards a steady 12 months with the bat from the 32-year-old right-hander, although still far removed from his annus mirabilis of 2011 when Bell reached the lofty position of No. 3 in the game’s global standings.
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17. Shane Watson (Australia)
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A calf injury in February 2014 saw Shane Watson fall to No. 31 in the ICC world rankings, and while the blond-haired all-rounder has also just been ruled out of Australia’s current tour of Pakistan with a similar problem, he will be back in time to face India at home this winter.
And with a five-Test Ashes series to come in England next summer as well, there is still plenty of time, and matches, for a run-hungry Watto to climb back up the global ratings come this time next year.
16. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)
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Despite New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum reaching a career-high position of 12th in the world after an excellent home series with the bat against India in February, the wicketkeeper’s form has fallen away relatively ever since.
But you can’t keep such a destructive batsman down for long, and with the Kiwis facing seven Tests against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England during the next 12 months, expect their inspirational skipper to rise to the challenge, and up from 20th in the rankings too.
15. Alastair Cook (England)
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England skipper Alastair Cook’s form with the bat in the Test arena has been so woeful of late that the opener has seen his global ranking plummet down to No. 21 at present after 18 months without a hundred.
But following a long break from the five-day game, the left-hander should return revitalised in West Indies in April before further successful series at home against both New Zealand and Australia next summer see Cook’s rating move up six places come this time next year.
14. Younis Khan (Pakistan)
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Experienced Pakistan batsman Younis Khan’s one-day career appears now to be over, and it would be no great surprise were the player—who turns 37 in November—to also soon call it quits in the Test-match arena.
However, the hugely gifted right-hander will still be around to face both Australia and New Zealand this year, although in 12 months’ time expect his ICC world ranking to have fallen from his current position of 11th to 14th due to retirement.
13. Cheteshwar Pujara (India)
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It has been a tough 2014 so far for Cheteshwar Pujara after the Indian had risen up the ICC’s Test-batting rankings to No. 5 in the world at the turn of the year, with the technically accomplished batsman having since fallen to No. 16 in the world.
But as everyone knows, form is temporary, while class in permanent, so expect the 26-year-old to return to scoring bucket loads of runs in his country’s next series at home to West Indies in October and November before a far tougher examination then awaits in Australia.
12. Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
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Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has seen his ranking gradually fall from the start of the year, although the reliable middle-order batsman still finds himself at a more-than-respectable position of 10th in the world at present.
But with his country shortly taking on Australia, the No. 2 Test side on the planet, in two matches, followed by a tricky looking trip to face New Zealand in seamer-friendly conditions over Christmas, the 40-year-old’s name will be absent from the top 10 in 12 months’ time.
11. Ross Taylor (New Zealand)
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Dependable New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor is set for a hectic international schedule during the next 12 months, with the Kiwis facing testing tours to both Pakistan and England, in between which they host in-form Sri Lanka over Christmas.
And with all of those three nations currently above the Black Caps in the ICC Test rankings, the 30-year-old batsman is unlikely to maintain his present position as the eighth-best batsman in the world come this time next year.
10. Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
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South Africa’s Faf du Plessis is currently at No. 14 in the ICC’s rankings, his highest-ever position after a wonder past year with the bat for the Proteas in the Test arena.
And with an appetising three-match series to come against the world’s eighth-best nation in the form of West Indies this December and January, the 30-year-old should find himself rated in the top 10 12 months’ from now.
9. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
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With exacting tours coming up this winter to both India and South Africa, followed by a home series against England next year, key West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul knows that he will have his hands full during the next 12 months.
As a result, do not expect to still be seeing the evergreen 40-year-old at No. 3 in the world rankings—as the Guyanan is now—come this time next year, especially with three Test matches to come over Christmas against the No. 1-ranked side on the planet.
8. Steven Smith (Australia)
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With Australia’s next two series coming against subcontinental nations Pakistan and India, it would a major surprise were their ever-improving middle-order batsman Steven Smith not to continue showing his recent class against spin by shooting up the ICC Test rankings.
The 25-year-old—currently rated 12th in the world standings—should definitely enjoy facing a Pakistan side minus Saeed Ajmal in October and November, while India then arrive Down Under this winter before Smith concludes with a five-match tour of England next summer.
7. Joe Root (England)
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Young Englishman Joe Root is rated the ninth-best Test batsman in the world at present by the ICC after scoring a mountain of runs at home to Sri Lanka and India of late, but expect that ranking to improve even further between now and this time next year.
And despite the Yorkshireman’s next five-day appearance for his country not coming until April, the 23-year-old should then be able to fill his boots against both West Indies and New Zealand before a tougher examination awaits when the Aussies arrive next summer.
6. Michael Clarke (Australia)
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Australia captain Michael Clarke is set for a huge 12 months of Test-match cricket as he seeks to return Australia to their position at the head of the global game, starting with his country’s current trip to the United Arab Emirates to take on Pakistan.
And with nine more matches to play against India this winter, followed by an Ashes tour to England next summer, it would be a major surprise were "Pup" not to have jumped up one place from his current position of seventh in the world standings by the end of those series.
5. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
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Sri Lanka Test skipper Angelo Mathews has shot up the world rankings since this time last year on the back of a remarkable run of form with the bat by the powerful all-rounder.
However, with just a two-Test series in New Zealand over Christmas with which to try and further boost his position in the global ratings, the 27-year-old will actually find himself slipping down one place to No. 5 during the next 12 months.
4. David Warner (Australia)
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Australia face a busy schedule during the course of the next 12 months, with Test matches in both Pakistan and England sandwiched in between a home series against India this winter.
And those three nations should each provide big-hitting Aussie opener David Warner with the ideal opposition to maintain his fine recent form with the bat and propel the left-hander up one place to No. 4 in the global standings come this time next year.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
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Despite Kumar Sangakkara turning 37 on October 27, the veteran Sri Lanka batsman shows no sign at present of losing his unquenchable thirst for scoring runs—and plenty of them, too.
However, with his country only due to be touring New Zealand for a two-Test series over Christmas and the new year, in 12 months’ time Sanga will have fallen from top spot to No. 3 in the world rankings.
2. Hashim Amla (South Africa)
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Recently appointed South Africa Test-match captain Hashim Amla may have endured a slightly disappointing last 12 months in the longer form of the game, at least by his own relatively high standards, that is.
However, expect to see the hirsute Proteas batsman return to something approaching his indomitable best and jump up four places to No. 2 in the world rankings in a year’s time after feasting on West Indies’ seamers for three Tests at home in December and January.
1. AB de Villiers (South Africa)
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Currently rated the second-best Test batsman in the world by the ICC, South Africa’s AB de Villiers will be licking his lips at the prospect of having to face West Indies’ inconsistent bowling attack in a three-match series this winter.
And after those run-laden contests on what are sure to be some extremely flat surfaces on home soil, the Proteas star should have positioned himself firmly at the head of the world rankings come this time next year.
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