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Joe Root leapfrogs Steven Smith to become top-ranked Test batsman

Root, who has scored more Test runs in 2015 than anyone else with 1,278, has the next opportunity to further enhance his standing when England face Pakistan again in Sharjah in the final Test on Sunday.

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Smith will now have a chance to resume his rivalry with Root for the top spot in the rankings when Australia take on New Zealand in a three-match Test series starting on 5th November.

Pakistan leading scorer in Tests Younus Khan, captain Misbahul Haq and middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq have also eaned rewards of good performances after the Dubai Test.

For this performance, Asad earned 43 points, which, in turn, has put him ahead of Virat Kohli, Ross Taylor, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendon McCullum and Faf du Plessis.

Yasir picked up eight for 180 in Pakistan’s 178 runs victory, which has earned him 25 points.

With the win, Pakistan are at present in lead with 1-0 towards England after first match between the 2 sides ended with the draw.

Asad Shafiq also achieved a career-high ranking of 12th after he scored 83 and 87. Sri Lanka remain seventh, while the West Indies stay eighth. To make this happen, they will have to win the Sharjah Test. And should Pakistan win, they will join Australia on 106 points but will be ranked above Australia when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

But he fell for 71, edging to Younis Khan at first slip off the bowling of Zulfiqar Babar, to leave England 157 for 4 chasing a world record 491 to win.

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For the third placed England, a win in the third Test will help them retain their pre-series position, while a defeat will push them down to the fifth spot.

England's Joe Roo