Published: Jul 24, 2018, 05:06 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 24, 2018, 05:06 PM (IST)
England’s pace spearhead James Anderson has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Test bowler rankings despite being away from international cricket for six weeks, following the latest reshuffling of the ratings system on Tuesday.
Anderson’s rise up one spot is due to Kagiso Rabada falling a spot after South Africa’s 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka, despite claiming eight wickets.
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Anderson last turned out for England in the 1-1 series draw against Pakistan at home in early June, when he took nine wickets. He has 892 points to Rabada’s 882. At third place is India spinner Ravindra Jadeja with 866.
Anderson, 35, is England’s leading Test wicket-taker with 540, and if he lasts all five matches against India this summer is in line to surpass Glenn McGrath’s mark of 563 to become the most successful fast bowler of all time.
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There were no major movements in the top half of the ICC’s Test batsmen rankings. Steven Smith, serving a 12-month ban from international cricket, remains at No 1 with 903 points followed by Virat Kohli (855), Kane Williamson (847), David Warner (820) and Cheteshwar Pujara (799).
Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne, fresh from two Man-of-the-Match awards and the Man-of-the-Series title in the whitewash of South Africa, has moved up to seventh place. His regular Test captain Dinesh Chandimal, despite not featuring in the series having received a suspension, also gained and is currently at eighth place.
