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Kohli surges to career-best third in ICC Test rankings

Last updated on: November 30, 2016 14:33 IST

The India captain moved to 833 points, within 14 points of England's Joe Root in a list led by Australia captain Steve Smith.

Virat Kohli

IMAGE: India captain Virat Kohli in action. Photograph: BCCI

India captain Virat Kohli moved up to a career-best third spot in the latest MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen after coming up with a useful contribution in his team's eight-wicket win over England in the third Test in Mohali that helped take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The 28-year-old Kohli scored 62 and six not out to move to 833 points, within 14 points of England's Joe Root in a list led by Australia captain Steve Smith. Starting the series in 15th position, Kohli has risen at a fast pace scoring 405 runs in the three Tests against England.

Kohli, who is top-ranked in Twenty20 internationals and second in One-Day Internationals, looks determined to top the table in Tests, the only format in which he has never been top-ranked. The remaining two Tests provide more opportunity to the in-form Kohli to gain more ranking points.

England's Jonny Bairstow has also reached a career-best ranking of ninth as he has shot up three places with knocks of 89 and 15 while Australia opener Usman Khawaja has moved up nine places to 19th rank after a match-winning knock of 145 that helped Australia win the day-night final Test against South Africa in Adelaide by seven wickets after losing the opening two Tests.

For South Africa, Faf du Plessis's innings of 118 not out and 12 have helped him move up eight positions to 23rd rank while opener Stephen Cook has moved up 30 places to a career-best 44th position after scoring 40 and 104 in Adelaide.

Ross Taylor has moved up four places to take the 18th slot after scores of 37 and 102 not out in New Zealand's 138 runs victory over Pakistan in Hamilton. New Zealand's 2-0 win in the two-match series saw Pakistan slipping from second to fourth position in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings.

In the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, Australia pace bowler Josh Hazlewood has moved into the top five for the first time after taking six wickets in Adelaide. He has moved up four places to take fifth position.

Three other pace bowlers have also attained career-best rankings. India’s Mohammad Shami has moved up two places to take 19th position, England's Ben Stokes has advanced four places to take 21st place while South Africa’s Kyle Abbott has gained seven places to reach 29th slot.

Ravindra Jadeja

IMAGE: Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after scoring a half-century during the third Test in Mohali. Photograph: BCCI

Meanwhile, in the list of all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja has gained two slots to reach a career-best fourth slot after scoring a crucial 90 in his only innings in Mohali. His spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin has consolidated his position at the top with 493 points, a tally not reached by anyone since retired South Africa player Jacques Kallis in 2008.

ICC Test rankings for batsmen:

Pos Rat Player Highest Rating
1 897 Steve Smith 936 on 20th July 2015 against England
2 847 Joe Root 917 on 10th August 2015 against Australia
3 833 Virat Kohli 833 on 29th November 2016 against England
4 817 Kane Williamson 893 on 17th November 2015 against Australia
5 791 Hashim Amla 907 on 17th October 2013 against Pakistan
6 778 AB de Villiers 935 on 24th February 2014 against Australia
7 772 David Warner 880 on 13th December 2014 against India
8 760 Cheteshwar Pujara 851 on 30th December 2013 against South Africa
9 759 Jonny Bairstow 759 on 29th November 2016 against India
10 753 Younus Khan 880 on 25th February 2009 against Sri Lanka

ICC Test rankings for bowlers:

Pos Rat Player Highest Rating
1 891 Ravichandran Ashwin 900 on 11th October 2016 against New Zealand
2 867 Rangana Herath 867 on 10th November 2016 against Zimbabwe
3 844 Dale Steyn 909 on 21st December 2014 against West Indies
4 834 James Anderson 884 on 31st May 2016 against Sri Lanka
5 815 Josh Hazlewood 815 on 27th November 2016 against South Africa
6 812 Stuart Broad 880 on 18th January 2016 against South Africa
7 796 Ravindra Jadeja 809 on 3rd October 2016 against New Zealand
8 787 Mitchell Starc 792 on 17th August 2016 against Sri Lanka
9 781 Yasir Shah 878 on 18th July 2016 against England
10 755 Neil Wagner 760 on 31st August 2016 against South Africa