Ravichandran Ashwin reclaims top spot in ICC Test rankings

Following what was a magnificent series with the ball Ravichandran Ashwin has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC World Rankings for Test match bowlers. Ashwin, who took 27 wickets in the series, now has 220 scalps under his belt. This included 13 wickets in the final Test against New Zealand at Indore, figures that remain his career best figures.

In the aftermath of the clean-sweep, the 30-year old off-spin bowler leapfrogged James Anderson and Dale Steyn to claim the top spot. He now also has amassed his career best ICC mandated ratings of 900 points. Ashwin was the top dog earlier in the fall of 2015 as well before some spectacular bowling from Dale Steyn ensured that the 33-year old South African pacer stole the limelight.

Only a select few players have had the honor of being privy to the 900 rating mark. Legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath, Sri Lankan wicket-taking machine Muttiah Muralitharan, Vernon Philander, Shaun Pollock, and Dale Steyn are among those to reach the 900 mark.

As far as the batsmen’s rankings are concerned, Indian vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has attained his career-best ranking after staking his claim to the sixth spot in the rankings. This comes after the 27-year old smashed his way to an impressive 188 in the first innings of the final Test match. Moreover, he also was one of India’s top run-getters in the series. The batsman’s rankings are still led by Australian skipper Steve Smith.

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Cheteshwar Pujara and Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s rankings were also on the move as Pujara’s knocks of 41 and 101 not out have helped him move up one place to 14th rank while Kohli’s scores of 211 and 17 at Indore have helped him move up four places to 16th position.

In spite of the heavy defeat, there was little to rejoice for New Zealand as Martin Guptill moved up 10 places to the 58th spot courtesy of his half-centuries in the final Test while Jimmy Neesham has moved 12 places up to the 70th place.

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