Azhar Ali climbs to No. 6 in ICC Test rankings

Pakistan opener Azhar Ali rose to number six spot in the new ICC Test Batsmen rankings released by the cricket governing body on Tuesday.

Azhar gained two positions to reach the 6th spot with 769 points and average of 46.86 in the latest rankings, and is now ahead of Australia batsman David Warner and behind India captain Virat Kohli.

England all-rounder Ben Stokes moved up to take career-best positions in both batting and bowling after a fine show in the third Test against South Africa at The Oval, which his side won by 239 runs on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

Stokes jumped 12 places to joint-25th position in the Batsmen rankings, while also gaining two places to reach 19th spot in the Bowlers rankings. His performance also saw him surpass South Africa's Vernon Philander to claim fifth place in the list of all-rounders.

The latest rankings saw other England players make notable gains too. Jonny Bairstow rose three slots to reach ninth position, opening batsman and former captain Alastair Cook climbed three places to 12th position, while in the Bowlers rankings James Anderson (up one place to joint-third) and Moeen Ali (up one place to 18th) made gains.

For South Africa, left-handed opener Dean Elgar's 136 in the second innings of the Oval Test lifted him three places to 15th position. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj gained four slots to attain a career-best 22nd position after his four wickets at The Oval.

Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews gained two places to reach number 17.