WEB DESK
Steve Smith dethroned India captain Virat Kohli to reclaim the top spot in ICC Test rankings released yesterday. Kohli was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the second innings of the final Test against the West Indies, which saw him slip to the No.2 spot.
Two of the most prolific batsmen in world cricket currently, Steve Smith (904) and Virat Kohli (903) are separated by a single rating point in the latest Test rankings.
However, Steve Smith will have a chance to further consolidate his lead when Australia face England in the fourth Test in Manchester, starting from tomorrow.
Among the bowlers, Australia’s Pat Cummins, who picked four wickets in the Leeds Test against England, continues to lead the rankings with 908 rating points.
India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, after picking a hat-trick in the final Test against the West Indies, has climbed to the third spot with 835 rating points.
Jason Holder of the West Indies retained his top spot among the all-rounders with 472 rating points, followed by Ben Stokes (411) and Shakib Al Hasan (399).
Elsewhere on the batting charts, India’s Ajinkya Rahane returned to the top 10, rising four places to No.7, after following up his half-century and hundred in Antigua with another useful half-century in Jamaica. Hanuma Vihari, described by Kohli as “the find of the series”, shot up 40 places to No.30 after just six Tests.
