Travis Head (l) has joined Steve Smith (r) in the top three of the ICC Test batting rankings. -AP
Australia will officially enter the Ashes with the best three batsmen in the world, after becoming the first side in almost four decades to claim a trifecta in the ICC rankings.
Travis Head’s sparkling 163 against India at The Oval has moved him from sixth to third in the latest ICC rankings, behind Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.
Head’s personal best ranking caps a stunning rise from being out of Australia’s side ahead of the last Ashes series 19 months ago.
It also marks the first time a team has occupied the top three batting spots since 1984 when West Indies’ Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd and Larry Gomes were first, second and third.
Usman Khawaja also makes for a fourth Australian in the top 10, albeit after dropping two spots from seventh to ninth after two low scores at The Oval.
England have just the one batter in the top 15, with Joe Root at No.6.
Pat Cummins remains at No.3 on the bowler’s list, behind India’s omitted spinner from the Test Championship final Ravichandran Ashwin and England’s James Anderson.
Ollie Robinson (sixth) and Stuart Broad (10th) remain in the top 10 for England, while Nathan Lyon sits in seventh.