Ashwin slips to 3rd, Rahane consistent at 8th in ICC Test rankings

Off-spinner R Ashwin dropped a rung to 3^rd but remained the highest-placed Indian bowler, while Ajinkya Rahane remained static at 8^th in the batsmen’s list of the latest ICC Test rankings issued on Wednesday.

Rahane was the lone Indian in the top-10 of batting charts but among the bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja was there at 8^th to give Ashwin company in the top-10.

South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn stormed back to the number-one position rankings for Test bowlers after producing a match-winning performance in the Centurion Test that helped his side complete a 204-run victory over New Zealand.

Steyn, who grabbed five for 33 in the second innings in what was his 26^th five-wicket haul, finished with match figures of eight for 99 to regain the top slot, the ICC said in a statement.

After reclaiming the No.1 ranking in February 2014 against Australia at Centurion, the 33-year-old had enjoyed the top spot until a shoulder injury in the Durban Test against England in December 2015 limited his bowling.

Ashwin took advantage of Steyn’s absence and backed up by some strong individual performances, finished the year as the top-ranked bowler.

Steyn has leapfrogged Ashwin and top-ranked England pace bowler James Anderson to take the top slot, which he first occupied jointly with retired Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralidaran in April 2008.

Steyn has now been number-one for a record 263 Tests with Muralidaran coming second in the list at 214 weeks. In terms of days, Steyn has spent 2,320 days at the top, the most by any bowler since World War II.

In the rankings for Test Batsmen, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis’s unbeaten century in the first innings contributed in him moving up the ladder.

Du Plessis scored 112 not out and six in his two innings and has moved up nine places from 33^rd to 24^th rank.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, who was adjudged player of the match for his knocks of 82 and 50 as well as six dismissals behind the wickets, have seen him move up 18 slots to 32^nd rank.

Meanwhile, the 1-0 series win has pushed South Africa up two places to fifth in the Team Rankings, while New Zealand have slipped two places to seventh. India stand 2^nd in the list behind Pakistan.