Virat Kohli remains at top of ICC Test rankings, Ashwin climbs to seventh

International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest Test rankings on Wednesday, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has managed to maintain his numero uno spot and is the number one batsmen in the format.  South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada reclaims top spot and became world’s number one bowler in Tests after England’s James Anderson lost some points for missing the last Test match against Sri Lanka.

Virat Kohli is expected to improve his points tally in the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia. Although, his throne is at least risk as of now because the world’s number two batsmen and Australia’s former captain Steve Smith is still facing one-year ban. He is currently at 910 points but will certainly loose some points as he is going to miss the upcoming Test series as well and the tally is expected to fall below 900 points.

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also jumped one spot and has secured number seven spot after Pakistan defeated New Zealand in the 2^nd Test match. New Zealand’s Trent Boult slipped two spot in the rankings which helped Ashwin to gain one spot.  However, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is still India’s number one bowler in the rankings and is at number five of the Standings.  

Other bowlers whose position in the rankings took flight includes Ben Stokes at 28^th (up by three spots), Devendra Bishoo at 32^nd (up by two spots), Adil Rashid at 36^th (up by two spots) Jack Leach at 41^st (up by two spots), Lakshan Sandakan at 45^th (up by 11 spots) and Malinda Pushpakumara at 61^st (up by 15 spots).

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On batsmen front, players with highest improvement includes Azhar Ali at 12^th (up by 12 spots), Jonny Bairstow at 16^th (up by six spots), Henry Nicholls at 17^th (up by three spots), Jos Buttler at 18^th (up by three spots), Kusal Mendis at 20^th (up by eight spots), Mominul Haque at 24^th (up by 11 spots) and Ben Stokes at 31^st (up by five spots).

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Virat Kohli performs in the upcoming Test series against Australia and takes considerable leap forward, making it hard for Steve Smith to catch up.