Cheteshwar Pujara continues to be the only Indian batsman in the top-20 list as he has managed to maintain his sixth spot, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is the highest-ranked bowler at number eight, in the latest ICC Test rankings issued here on Tuesday.
With 777 points to his credit, right-handed batsman Pujara is the lone Indian to be figuring in the table, which is headed by South Africa’s Hashim Amla (903 points). Australia skipper Michael Clarke has jumped three spots at number two after scoring a splendid 187 in the first innings of the third Ashes Test against England that ended in a draw.
If Clarke manages to produce another strong performance in the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street, then he could not only move ahead of Amla, but may also improve his career-high rating of 900 points. England’s Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen are the other batsmen inside the top 20 to make upward movements. Batsmen outside the top 20 and improving their rankings are Steven Smith in 48th (up by 14 places) and Brad Haddin in 49th (up by two). In the Test bowlers’ rankings, Ashwin and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha have remained at eight and 10th positions.