Smith overtakes Kohli to reclaim ICC’s ‘No. 1 spot’ in Test rankings

SYDNEY, Sept 3, (RTRS): Australia’s run-machine Steve Smith has edged past Indian captain Virat Kohli to become the best Test batsman in the world, based on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rankings.

Kohli’s side moved to the top of the new ICC World Test Championship table with a 2-0 series sweep against West Indies. But his own firstball duck in the second innings at Sabina Park meant he slipped to second spot in the men’s individual ranking with 903 points.

Smith leads Kohli by one point but will have a chance to consolidate his position in the fourth Ashes Test against England starting on Wednesday at Old Trafford, where he returns after recovering from concussion.

Former captain Smith has not held top spot in the rankings since December 2015. In August last year, while

Smith

Smith was serving a 12-month ban over a ball-tampering scandal, Kohli overtook him in the standings.

The Australian number four has since made a remarkable return to the longest format, with twin hundreds in the first Ashes Test in Birmingham.

He followed that up with a 92 at Lord’s before being felled by a short ball from England fast bowler Jofra Archer.

Australia now boast both the number one Test batsman and bowler in the world, with Pat Cummins leading the bowling charts since February.

It is the first time the Australians have topped the charts with both bat and ball since March 2006, when Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath topped the respective rankings.

Kohli’s next opportunity to respond will be in a home Test series against South Africa starting on Oct 2.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson retains third spot, while India’s Ajinkya Rahane returned to the top 10, rising four places to seventh.