DUBAI: Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin ended James Anderson’s brief stay at the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings only a week after he dethroned Pat Cummins to become the No.1 bowler in the longest format.
According to International Cricket Council’s players’ rankings update, Ashwin rose to the top of the Test bowlers chart and pushed Anderson to the second, credit to their recent performances in the two Tests – one held in Delhi and the other in Wellington.
Ashwin took six wickets during India’s emphatic victory over Australia in the second Test while Anderson bagged three wickets in the first innings and remained wicketless in the second during England’s stunning loss to New Zealand by one run in Wellington.
The 36-year-old Ashwin has claimed the top spot on several occasions since 2015 when he bagged the honour for the first time.
Similarly, the 40-year-old England quick held the title six times during his prolific career and it was only a week ago when he surged to 866 rating points to remove Australia’s Cummins from the top billing after four years.
“Although the veteran (Anderson) made an impact again in the remarkable second Test, taking three top-order wickets in the first innings, he is now five rating points behind Ashwin who remains on 864 points.” said the ICC statement.
Moreover, in the Test batting charts, England’s Joe Root displaced Pakistan’s all-format from the third position as he jumped two places.
Babar is now ranked fourth on the ICC Test batters’ list, nine rating points behind Root’s 871 while Australia duo, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith remain first and second respectively.
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