In the men’s Test rankings, Australia’s batsmen now sit in the top three slots, giving them a significant advantage going into the Ashes series.
Marnus Labuschagne continues to hold the number one slot in the International Cricket Council’s most recent weekly update, which was issued on Wednesday. His team-mates Steve Smith and Travis Head are slightly behind him in the rankings.
The last time that batters from the same team held all three of the top positions was in 1984, when West Indies players Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd, and Larry Gomes filled the spots.
Smith reached the century mark during Australia’s victory over India in the final of the World Test Championship last week, while Head moved up to fourth place after making 163 runs in the same game at The Oval.
At number six on the list, Joe Root is the highest position held by an England hitter.
As a result of his five wickets taken in the match against India, the Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has moved up to the sixth spot in the bowling rankings.
Pat Cummins, his captain, is still in third place, while James Anderson, from England, is in second.
On Friday, the opening match of the Ashes series will begin at Edgbaston.