Ashwin slips to 3rd, Rahane 8th in ICC Test rankings

Off-spinner R Ashwin dropped a rung to 3rd but remained the highest-placed Indian bowler, while Ajinkya Rahane remained static at 8th in the batsmen’s list of the latest ICC Test rankings issued today.

Rahane was the lone Indian in the top-10 of batting charts but among the bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja was there at 8th to give Ashwin company in the top-10. South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn stormed back to the number-one position rankings for Test bowlers after producing a match-winning performance in the Centurion Test that helped his side complete a 204-run victory over New Zealand.

Steyn, who grabbed five for 33 in the second innings in what was his 26th five-wicket haul, finished with match figures of eight for 99 to regain the top slot, the ICC said in a statement. After reclaiming the No.1 ranking in February 2014 against Australia at Centurion, the 33-year-old had enjoyed the top spot until a shoulder injury in the Durban Test against England in December 2015 limited his bowling.

Ashwin took advantage of Steyn’s absence and backed up by some strong individual performances, finished the year as the top-ranked bowler.

Steyn has leapfrogged Ashwin and top-ranked England pace bowler James Anderson to take the top slot, which he first occupied jointly with retired Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralidaran in April 2008. Steyn has now been number-one for a record 263 Tests with Muralidaran coming second in the list at 214 weeks.