ICC Test Rankings: After 1st Test loss in New Zealand, Virat Kohli loses No. 1 position to Steve Smith
In the updated Test rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday (February 26), Steve Smith is back as the No. 1 Test batsman in the world, replacing Virat Kohli. In the first Test in Wellington, Kohli managed only 21 runs as India lost by 10 wickets to the Kiwis. The hosts hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series
FollowDubai: India captain Virat Kohli’s poor performances in the first Test against New Zealand has resulted in him losing the top spot in ICC Test Rankings to Australia’s Steve Smith. The Australian has 911 rating points while Kohli has 906.
In the updated Test rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday (February 26), Smith is back as the No. 1 Test batsman in the world, pushing Kohli to the second spot.
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In the first Test in Wellington, Kohli managed only 21 runs as India lost by 10 wickets to the Kiwis. The hosts hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
India opener Mayank Agarwal is back at a career-best 10th position with his highest aggregate points tally.
Also read: India lose opening Test in Wellington
This is the eighth time that Smith is on top of the rankings after first occupying the top position in June 2015. The last batsman apart from Smith and Kohli to be No. 1 is New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, for an eight-day period in December 2015.
In the latest update, that also includes the one-off Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Mirpur, which the home side won by an innings and 106 runs, Williamson has gained 31 points after his innings of 89 due to the low team scores in the match and the highly-rated India attack, facts considered in the calculation of rating points.
New Zealand’s Ross Taylor and Colin Grandhomme have moved up the batsmen’s list while fast bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult have made big gains after finishing with nine and five wickets, respectively. Southee has advanced eight spots to take sixth position, which is his highest since a career-best fifth place in June 2014. Boult has moved up four slots to take joint-13th position.
Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim has risen five places to return to the top 20 after his double-century in Mirpur while captain Mominul Haque has moved up five places to 39th after a score of 132. Nayeem Hasan is the big news for the team with his nine wickets lifting him 29 places to 38th position among bowlers. Abu Jayed has moved up 11 places to 46th.
Craig Ervine top-scored in both innings for Zimbabwe to progress 15 places. He is one place behind his best of 41st achieved in July 2017.
In the ICC World Test Championship, New Zealand are on 120 points after gaining 60 points for the Wellington victory. They had won 60 points in a 1-1 draw against Sri Lanka while this is the first match that top-placed India have lost.
