In the fresh release of ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, India’s spin duo Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have become the first pair of spinners to jointly top the charts. The International Cricket Council (ICC) released the rankings after the second Test against Australia in Bengaluru. The test match, which was full of drama and a memorable thrilling encounter, was won by India by 75 runs to square the four-match series 1-1.
Ashwin took eight wickets in the Bengaluru Test match, including his 25th five-for in Tests. He also became the fifth-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 269 wickets surpassing Bishan Bedi with his eight-wicket haul in the test match. Ashwin tops the chart with 878 points.
Meanwhile, Jadeja moved a step-up from his position to reach at the top for the first time in his career. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler claimed seven wickets in the match and fired up the balls at a breathtakingly low economy. He tops the list with 860 points.
India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have become first pair of spinners to jointly top in ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers. pic.twitter.com/eQzlTzSSyd
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 8, 2017
Indian pace bowler Umesh Yadav has also gained one place to reach career-best 29th.
It was last in April 2008 that two bowlers shared the top spot together when South African speedster Dale Steyn and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralidaran were at the top. But it’s the first time that both the bowlers are spinners.
However, the ratings also had its share of bad news. Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli dropped one place down to number 3 in the ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen, just one point behind England’s new Test skipper Joe Root, who is having a fantastic season. Australian captain Steve Smith continues to top the table with 939 points.
Also, in all-rounder’s rankings, R Ashwin lost the top spot to Bangladesh’s Shakib al-Hasan after having a not-so-good stint with the bat on the slow turning pitch.
