Published: Dec 21, 2014, 10:42 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 21, 2014, 11:32 PM (IST)
Dec 21, 2014
Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith and Chris Rogers moved up the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Batsman rankings after the conclusion of the second Test between India and Australia at Brisbane.
According to a media release on the official website of the ICC, Vijay, the sole Indian centurion from the second Test, claimed the 20th position after moving eight places up in the Test charts, this being the best rank for the Tamil Nadu batsman in his career. Virat Kohli, who failed to repeat his heroics from the first Test, dropped three places to 19th. Rahane’s half-century in the first innings of the Test has helped him move six places to the 41st position.
Smith scored 133 in the first innings of his debut Test as captain, and moved one place to finish seventh. The Australian skipper however, is one place behind David Warner, who sat on the sixth position after falling two places due to a loss of 31 ratings points. Two half-centuries in the Test has helped Rogers move five places to the 28th position.
South Africa captain Hashim Amla has moved three places in the ICC Test Batsmen rankings to finish at the third spot, after scoring a double-century against West Indies in the first Test at Centurion.
Amla scored 208 in South Africa’s only innings in that match, and shared a 308-run stand with AB de Villiers, who scored 152 in that innings is currently ranked second in the same list, which was released by the ICC on Saturday.
Kumar Sangakkara currently leads the Test batsman rankings with 915 ratings. The Sri Lankan wicket-keeper is 11 points ahead of de Villiers, who tops the ODI chart. Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews finds himself in the fourth spot. West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul dropped two places to finish on the fifth rank.
Dale Steyn managed to consolidate his number one position on the ICC Test Bowler’s rankings, with his figures of six for 34 in the West Indian second innings helped him achieve his career-best rating of 909 points/. The 909-point mark had been achieved in the past by Shuan Pollock (1999), Richard Hadlee (1985) and Waqar Younis (1993)
Vernon Philander was the other bowler to progress in the table, moving three places to the third spot, while Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath was nestled between the two in the second spot.
Meanwhile, South Africa are one win away from sealing the number one spot on the ICC Test Team ranking. A series win for the Proteas would give them the Test Championship mace as well as a cash reward of USD 500,000.
