Steve Smith overtakes Kohli to reach number one spot in ICC Test Ranking

Steve Smith of Australia has topped the latest ICC Test Ranking surpassing Indian captain Virat Kohli in the latest rankings for batsmen by just a point. Steve Smith now has 904 points as compared to 903 of Virat Kohli.

Steve Smith scored two centuries in Australia’s 251-run victory in the first Ashes Test and 92 at Lord’s. However, Smith had suffered a concussion after being hit on the head of a delivery by Jofra Archer in the second Test at Lord’s, returns after sitting out last week’s agonising loss at Headingley which levelled the five-match series 1-1 with two Tests to go.

Smith had scored 378 runs at an average of 126 in three innings in Ashes and was back on the field in last week’s tour match against Derbyshire.

On the other side, Virat Kohli has a relatively low scoring series against the West Indies where he scored just two half-centuries.

Joe Root of England and India’s Ajinkya Rahane were the other players who moved in the rankings up to sixth and seventh spot respectively.

Steve Smith had been the number one Test batsman from December 2015 to August 2018 but lost the sport while he was on 12-month suspension from international cricket.

In the bowlers’ ranking India’s Jasprit Bumrah moved up to the third spot in the rankings closing in on Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins at the top.