Dale Steyn reclaims top spot in Test rankings

The latest Test rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) has brought some cheerful news for the South African pace trio of Dale Steyn , Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada who played chief roles in South Africa’s 204-run victory over New Zealand in the Centurion Test on Tuesday (August 30).

The rejuvenated Dale Steyn reclaimed the number-one position in the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers after producing a match-winning performance of 8/99 including a five for 33 in the 2nd innings in what was his 26th five-wicket haul.

Steyn reigned supreme on the ranking chart before a shoulder injury forced him out of the team in December 2015. Steyn, after becoming the number one ranked bowler in 2008, reclaiming the top spot in February 2014 against Australia at Centurion.

In his absence, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, rising on the back of some inspiring performance for India toppled him to become the numero uno. However, the mercurial fast bowlers’ wonderful form has seen him overtaking Ashwin and James Anderson to claim the top spot.

Steyn has now been number one for a record 263 Tests with Muralitharan 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.

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Steyn’s new ball partners – Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada – have also made significant gains in the latest bowlers’ rankings. Philander, who took four wickets in the Centurion Test, has moved from 13th to 11th position, while Rabada has gained three places to rise to 27th position after grabbing five wickets in the match. The only goods for the New Zealand camp was that its fast bowler Neil Wagner moved up one slot to the ninth position following his six wickets hauls, including a first innings haul of five for 86.

ICC TEST TEAM RANKINGS:

Rank   Team               Points

1.     Pakistan            111

2.     India                 110

3.     Australia           108

4.     England            108

5.     South Africa       96 (+2)

6.     Sri Lanka            95

7.     New Zealand      95 (-2)

8.     West Indies         67

9.      Bangladesh        57

10.  Zimbabwe            8

Batsmen (top 10)

Rank     (+/-)       Player                  Team     Pts         Avge      Highest Rating

   1         ( – )        Steve Smith         Aus        906       58.55    936 v Eng at Lord’s 2015

   2         ( – )        Joe Root               Eng        878       54.86    917 v Aus at Trent Bridge 2015

   3         ( – )        K. Williamson     NZ         876       51.08    893 v Aus at Perth 2015

   4         ( – )        Hashim Amla      SA         847       51.16    907 v Pak at Abu Dhabi 2013

   5         ( – )        Younus Khan       Pak        845        53.72    880 v SL at Lahore 2009

   6=       (+1)       Adam Voges        Aus        802*     72.75    824 v SL at Galle 2016

              ( – )        AB de Villiers     SA         802       50.46    935 v Aus at Port Elizabeth 2014

   8         ( – )        Ajinkya Rahane   Ind         785!      49.00    785 v WI at Trinidad 2016

   9         (+1)       David Warner      Aus        772       48.63    880 v NZ at Perth 2015

  10        (+1)       Alastair Cook      Eng        770       47.31    874 v Ind at Kolkata 2012

Other selected rankings

Rank     (+/-)       Player                  Team     Pts         Avge      Highest Rating

14          (-5)        Ross Taylor         NZ         735       47.85     871 v WI at Hamilton 2013

24          (+9)       Faf du Plessis      SA         627       42.39     710 v WI at Port Elizabeth 2014

32          (+18)      Q. de Kock           SA         584*!    47.66     584 v NZ at Centurion 2016

29          ( – )        Dean Elgar           SA         593       36.22     626 v Eng at Johannesburg 2016

30          (-2)        B.J. Watling        NZ         592       39.35     644 v Eng at Headingley 2015

Bowlers (top 10)

Rank     (+/-)       Player                  Team     Pts         Avge     Highest Rating

   1         (+2)       Dale Steyn           SA         878       22.24    909 v WI at Centurion 2014

   2         (-1)        James Anderson  Eng        870       28.28    884 v SL at Durham 2016

   3         (-1)        R.Ashwin             Ind         859       25.20    876 v WI at Antigua 2016

   4         ( – )        Stuart Broad        Eng        836       28.52    880 v SA at Johannesburg 2016

   5         ( – )        Rangana Herath   SL          831       28.71    851 v Pak at Colombo (SSC) 2014

   6         ( – )        Yasir Shah           Pak        806*     27.48    878 v Eng at Lord’s 2016

   7         ( – )        Mitchell Starc     Aus        792!      27.36    792 v SL at Colombo (SSC) 2016

   8         ( – )        Ravindra Jadeja   Ind         773*     23.42    789 v SA at Delhi 2015

   9         (+1)       Neil Wagner        NZ         760*!    29.12    760 v SA at Centurion 2016

  10        (-1)        Trent Boult          NZ         733       29.32    825 v Eng at Lord’s 2015

Other selected rankings

Rank     (+/-)       Player               Team       Pts        Avge      Highest Rating

  11        (+2)       V.Philander         SA         723       22.09     912 v Ind at Johannesburg 2013

  13        (-2)        Morne Morkel     SA         710       29.33     776 v Aus at Cape Town 2011

  15        ( – )        Tim Southee        NZ         656       32.63     799 v WI at Jamaica 2014

  27        (+3)       Kagiso Rabada    SA         497*!    24.44     497 v NZ at Centurion 2016

  36        ( – )        Doug Bracewell   NZ         406*     38.83     538 v WI at Jamaica 2012

All-rounders (top five) 

Rank     (+/-)       Player                  Team     Pts        HS Rating

   1         ( – )        R. Ashwin            Ind         439!      439 v WI at Trinidad 2016

   2         ( – )        S. Al Hasan          Ban        384       419 v Zim at Khulna 2014

   3         ( – )        Moeen Ali           Eng        292/*!   292 v Pak at The Oval 2016

   4         ( – )        Mitchell Starc     Aus        279!      279 v SL at Colombo (SSC) 2016

   5         ( – )        V. Philander        SA         264       376 v Aus at Cape Town 2014