JADEJA SPINS PAST ASHWIN TO BE NO. 1
LEFT ARM SPINNER TOPS THE ICC RANKINGS
Ravindra Jadeja edged past Ravichandran Ashwin to become the top-ranked bowler while Cheteshwar Pujara achieved a career-best second rank in the ICC Test rankings.
Jadeja was tied with R Ashwin going into the Ranchi Test but his match figures of 9/178 were enough to move to the top spot past his compatriot.
Jadeja, who grabbed 5/124 and 4/52, gained seven points to go clear on top. Ashwin, who was No 1 until Jadeja caught up, took just two wickets to slip to second. Jadeja is only the third Indian to top the bowling charts, former left-arm spinner, Bishan Singh Bedi, being the third.
THE 900-MARK
The 28-year old from Saurashtra is also on the verge of becoming the second Indian bowler after Ashwin to touch the 900-point mark in ICC rankings.
“Jadeja has closed in on a major landmark as his tally of 899 rating points puts him on the brink of becoming only the second India bowler after Ashwin to touch the 900-point mark. Ashwin, who had a highest rating of 904 points, has slipped 37 points to 862 points,” an ICC release said.
PUJARA’S HIGH
The stellar double century in the Ranchi Test helped Pujara jump to second for the first time in the batsmen’s ranking s. He leapfrogged New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, England skipper Joe Root and Virat Kohli to be only behind Aussie skipper Steven Smith.
SMITH WAY AHEAD
Smith is way ahead of the pack with a career-high rating of 941 points. It is unlikely that anyone will surpass him in the near future. The Aussie has already scored two centuries in this series.
Smith’s tally is the joint-fifth highest ever along with Peter May. Only Don Bradman (961), Len Hutton (945), Jack Hobbs and Ricky Ponting (942) have amassed higher rating points totals.
KOHLI TARGETTED
Continuing to take potshots at Virat Kohli, the Australian media highlighted Kohli’s slide in the rankings. Cricket Australia’s website cricket.com.au headlined its rankings story “Kohli displaced as India’s No 1 batsman.” It relegated Smith’s career-high rating and Pujara’s improvement. Kohli came into this series after a brilliant season, scoring double centuries in four successive series. But the Australians have managed to keep him in check. The India captain has not even aggregated 50 in five innings so far. He averages 9.20.
INDIA STAY NO 1
India though will stay the No 1 team at the end of the season thanks to their win in the Bangalore Test. The race for second spot is open as Australia and South Africa are competing ahead of the cut-off date of April 1.