ICC Rankings: Jadeja dislodges Ashwin from perch to become No 1 Test bowler

After his superb bowling effort in the 3rd Test against Australia in Ranchi, Ravindra Jadeja is now the sole member of the top spot in the ICC Test ranking for bowlers.

Jadeja, who grabbed nine wickets (five for 124 and four for 52) in the Ranchi Test  gained seven points after starting joint-first with Ashwin at 892 points.

The left-arm spinner has become only the third Indian after Ashwin and Bishan Bedi to top the bowling charts on his own.

With 899 rating points, Jadeja is 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, slipped 37 points behind Jadeja to 862 points after finishing with two wickets in Ranchi.

The latest rankings, which also take into account the Colombo Test which Bangladesh won by four wickets against Sri Lanka to draw the series 1-1 and the second Test in Wellington, which South Africa won by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against New Zealand, also sees quite a few other significant changes.

South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj rose 15 places to touch a career-best 37th spot after taking eight wickets in Wellington.

India’s pace bowler Umesh Yadav (26th) and Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh (47th) have also achieved personal best rankings.

In the ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen, top-ranked Steve Smith reached a career-high rating of 941 points after scores of 178 not out and 21.

The Australia captain'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 achieved higher rating points.

India’s Cheteshwar Pujara’s 202-run knock has helped him rise four rungs to No 2, replacing New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who is now in fifth place, also slipping behind Joe Root and Virat Kohli.

The Bangladesh pair of Shakib Al Hasan (21st) and Mushfiqur Rahim (28th), Australia’s Peter Handscomb (35th) and New Zealand batsmen Jeet Raval (43rd) and Henry Nicholls (45th) have also achieved career-best rankings.

Shakib, who took six wickets in Colombo, has displaced Ashwin from the top rank in the list of all-rounders after the two players inter-changed positions two times last week.

Meanwhile, the race for the second spot in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings has become interesting as Australia and South Africa compete ahead of the cut-off date of 1 April, on which India is assured of finishing first and a cash award of $1 million.

Australia will have to at least draw the last Test in Dharamsala if they have to finish second and get a cash award $ 500,000.

But South Africa can finish second if Australia loses and South Africa either wins or draws the last match against New Zealand in Hamilton.

The third-placed team on 1 April will receive $ 200,000 while the fourth-placed team, which will be England, will get $ 100,000.