AB de Villiers scored 48 and 1 during 1st Test vs India recently © Getty Images (representational image)
AB de Villiers is back to the top of the batting table in the ICC Test rankings after the list was updated on Tuesday following the end of the Brisbane and Mohali Tests. The South African limited-overs skipper had achieved the number-one position for the first time in March 2012 and last was at the summit earlier this year in January, before he was overtaken by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara following his 203 against New Zealand in Wellington. De Villiers who scored 63 and 16 against India in the opening Test of their four-match series, just overtook Steven Smith for the top rank. SCORECARD: India vs South Africa 2015 1st Test at Mohali
The Australian Test skipper meanwhile had managed just 48 and one against New Zealand in their first game of the three-match series. De Villiers leads Smith by just one point.
According to ICC media release, Williamson who had scored 140 and 59 in Gabba earned a jump of two places putting him in fifth position for the first time in his career. David Warner’s two centuries in the Brisbane Test have also lifted him two places to seventh spot. India’s Murali Vijay and South Africa’s Dean Elgar are the other top-ranked batsmen to achieve career high rankings. Vijay’s 75 and 47 has vaulted him eight places to 11th position, meaning that he has now become India’s top-ranked Test batsman.
Cheteshwar Pujara has gained five places following his contribution of 31 and 77 but he is still two places behind Vijay in 13th spot.
Meanwhile, Dale Steyn remains as World’s No. 1 Test bowler. Following Ravichandran Ashwin’s five for 51 and three for 39, the India off-spinner has returned to the top five after rising three places. Mitchell Starc’s four for 57 and two for 69 rewared him a gain of seven places—career best position of 13th—On the other hand Ravindra Jadeja has rocketed 10 places to a career-high 21st position following match figures of eight for 76 that also earned him the player of the Mohali Test award.