Ravichandran Ashwin reclaims top spot in ICC rankings for Test bowlers

Ravichandran Ashwin, Indian off spinner, has reclaimed top spot in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers following an exemplary performance in India's innings victory over West Indies in the first of the four-match Test series in Antigua. The 29-year-old spinner, who topped the year-end Test bowling rankings in 2015, was usurped by Yasir Shah following the leg spinner's 10-wicket exploits in Pakistan's win at Lord's last week.


Ashwin gained five ranking points for his seven-wicket haul at Antigua to open up a 44-point lead over Yasir, who conceded 46 points after an insipid showing in Pakistan's defeat at Old Trafford, which relegated him to the fifth spot. Ashwin, who also scored 113 in India's first innings, made gains in the batting rankings and strengthened his hold on the top spot among all-rounders as well.

Ashwin, only the third Indian to be top-ranked among all-rounders after Vinoo Mankad and Kapil Dev, now leads second-placed Shakib Al Hasan by 43 points in the all-rounders rankings.

In the batting standings, England's Joe Root powered to the second spot, behind Steve Smith, following innings of 254 and 71* at Old Trafford while Alastair Cook returned to the top-10 with knocks of 105 and 76* in the same Test. Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, who scored his maiden Test match double hundred in Antigua, climbed two places up to 12th.

ICC Top 10 batsmen
 

Rank	Player	Team	Points
1	Steven Smith	Australia	925
2	Joe Root	England	901
3	Kane Williamson	New Zealand	868
4	Hashim Amla	South Africa	860
5	AB de Villiers	South Africa	818
6	Adam Voges	Australia	811
7	David Warner	Australia	800
8	Misbah-ul-Haq	Pakistan	790
9	Alastair Cook	England	788
10	Younis Khan	Pakistan	784

ICC Top 10 bowlers

Rank	Player	Team	Points
1	R Ashwin	India	876
2	James Anderson	England	875
3	Stuart Broad	England	852
4	Dale Steyn	South Africa	841
5	Yasir Shah	Pakistan	832
6	Ravindra Jadeja	India	781
7	Trent Boult	New Zealand	757
8	Josh Hazlewood	Australia	741
9	Morne Morkel	South Africa	724
10	Vernon Philander	South Africa	717