ICC Test rankings: Kohli rises to career-best ninth

A good performance in the just-concluded two-Test series against New Zealand has propelled India batsman Virat Kohli to a career-best ninth in the latest ICC Test rankings.

The in-form batsman, who scored 214 runs in four innings, broke into top-10 for the first time and joined compatriot Cheteshwar Pujara, who slipped a rung to seventh.

Kohli jumped two places following knocks of 38 and 105 not out in the second Test at Wellington, which ended in a draw. 

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dropped two places to 10, but is still the highest-ranked Indian bowler, ahead of left-arm tweaker Pragyan Ojha (12th), in Test bowlers' rankings.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's spectacular match-saving 302 saw him jump eight places to a career-best 12th.

He became the first Kiwi batsman to score a triple hundred as the second and final Test against India ended in a draw Tuesday, and New Zealand clinched the series 1-0.

McCullum's partner in a world record sixth-wicket stand worth 352, BJ Watling, also moved up the rankings, jumping three places to 45th as a result of his knock of 124.

Two other centurions in the Wellington Test also made upward moves in the latest table, released on Wednesday.

While Ajinkya Rahane rose to 46th (up by 15), New Zealand's debutant century-maker Jimmy Neesham entered the rankings in 59th place.

New Zealand's Tim Southee moved up a place to a career-best ninth in the bowlers' list following a match haul of five for 143 in the Wellington Test.

Meanwhile, Australia's Mitchell Johnson continued to storm through the charts in the bowlers' rankings. 

He rose five places to fourth following a spectacular match-winning haul of 12 for 127 in the Centurion Test against South Africa.

Vernon Philander ceded the number-one position in the bowlers' table to teammate Dale Steyn after a 55-day reign at the top.