Kohli achieves career-best 2nd rank; Ashwin consolidates top spot in ICC Test rankings

Dubai [UAE], Dec.1 3 (ANI): Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli has moved to his career-best second rank in the latest ICC Test Rankings for batsmen following his 235 in the fourth Test of the five-match series against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The knock earned Kohli 53 points and an average of over 50 in Test cricket too. Australia captain Steve Smith occupies the top spot with 897 points, 11 ahead of Kohli. He is now is in line to top the rankings in all three forms of the game at some point in time. The 28-year-old swashbuckling batsman, who is currently ranked second in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and first in T20 Internationals, is just 11 points behind Smith, who will get a chance to maintain his top ranking in the upcoming three-Test series against Pakistan. Meanwhile, ace Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has consolidated his position at the top of the ICC Rankings for Test Bowlers after his match haul of 12-167 in the Mumbai Test which helped the home side score an innings and 36 runs victory for a winning 3-0 lead in the series. Ashwin, who had touched the coveted 900-point mark for the first time in October when he had reclaimed the top-ranking, has reached 904 points to run up a 37-point lead over second-placed Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka. Ashwin's rating is the second best-ever by an off-spinner after Muttiah Muralidaran (920), fifth best among spinners after Tony Lock (912), Derek Underwood (907) and Shane Warne (905), and the 18th in the overall list. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja has bridged the gap with Ben Stokes to just one point in the all-rounders' list after taking six wickets in Mumbai. Jadeja's continued success has also helped him reach a career-best ranking of sixth among bowlers. Other India players to make upward movements among batsmen are opener Murali Vijay and all-rounder Jayant Yadav. Vijay has moved up five places to 24th position after his knock of 136 while Yadav's 104 runs at number nine position, has pushed him up 31 slots to 56th rank.(ANI)