Virat Kohli Dethrones Steve Smith In ICC Rankings, David Warner Makes Giant Strides

Virat Kohli has regained the No.1 spot in the latest ICC Test rankings by dethroning Australia's Steve Smith. Kohli had blasted 136 during India's first Day-Night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens recently. In contrast, Smith had a poor series against Pakistan, managing scores of just 4 and 36 in the two Tests which Australia won by an innings. During the course of his knock in Adelaide, Smith went past 7000 Test runs but he became the fastest ever to reach the landmark, beating the 73-year-old record set by England's Wally Hammond. Kohli has now reached 928 points and is now five points clear after Smith poor series saw him slip to 923 points from 931 before the match.

Cheteshwar Pujara has held on to his fourth spot, while Ajinkya Rahane has come down a spot to sixth in the latest update. Among the bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah is the highest-placed Indian at the fifth position. Senior off-spinner R Ashwin was also static at ninth in the rankings. The ICC statement also read that David Warner's epic 335 not out has lifted him 12 places to the fifth position while Marnus Labuschagne is in the top 10 for the first time after being ranked as low as 110th at the start of the year.

Warner became the second Australian to score a triple century in Tests in Australia after Matthew Hayden smashed 380 during the Perth Test against Zimbabwe in 2003. The left-hander also became the second Australian player after Mark Taylor to hit a triple ton against Pakistan. Mark Taylor had smashed 334 in 1998 at Peshawar. Warner also became the fourth batsmen after Sir Garfield Sobers, Virender Sehwag and Taylor to hit a triple ton against Pakistan in Tests.

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This was the first time that a batsman had scored a triple century at the Adelaide Oval. The previous best was an unbeaten 299* by Sir Don Bradman against South Africa in 1932. Warner also became the second Australian to score a triple century in Tests in Australia after Matthew Hayden smashed 380 during the Perth Test against Zimbabwe in 2003. The left-hander also became the second Australian player after Mark Taylor to hit a triple ton against Pakistan. Mark Taylor had smashed 334 in 1998 at Peshawar.

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