ICC Test Bowlers Rankings: Ashwin Climbs To 2nd Spot, Jadeja Moves Up To 16th

India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin ascended to second place on Wednesday, while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja climbed to 16th in the latest ICC Men’s Test Bowlers Rankings following their outstanding performance against Australia in the first Test in Nagpur.

The Indian spin twins plagued Australia with a combined 15 wickets in the opening Test between the two premier teams in the current cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, as the hosts prevailed by an innings 132 runs.

Ashwin ensured India’s surprising victory was complete before tea on the third day, taking 5/37 in the second innings to go with 3/42 earlier in the match. The 36-year-old is now only 21 rating points behind Australia captain Pat Cummins and is on his way back to the top spot for the first time since 2017.

While Ashwin stepped up in the final session of the Test, Jadeja wreaked havoc on the first day with 5/47, including valued wickets of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. In the second innings, Jadeja took 2/34 with Ashwin as the spin twins promptly destroyed Australia’s top seven hitters and left them reeling at 67/7 on their route to being all out for 91.

Gudakesh Motie, a rising West Indian spinner, debuted with 19 wickets in two Tests against Zimbabwe and has risen 77 positions to 46th after only three Tests.

Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma has risen from 10th to 8th in the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings following his match-defining tonne in Nagpur. After Australia were all out for 177 in their first innings, Rohit stepped to the crease and made the wicket appear all but tame with an assured 120 that set the tone for the rest of the match.

In comparison, Australia’s openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja have both been removed cheaply twice. Warner has slipped six places to 20th after scoring 1 and 10, while Khawaja has dropped two places to 10th after scoring 1 and 5 in the first Test against India.

Axar Patel of India has risen six places to seventh in the ICC Men’s Test All-Rounder Rankings after arriving to the bat at a tense 240/7 and striking a patient 84 for his greatest Test score.

Kraigg Brathwaite is another Test captain who has risen in the batting rankings, rising four places to 21st after scoring 182 in the first Test against Zimbabwe.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies skipper’s opening partner, surged 28 places to 58th after his massive 207 not out in the same Test against Zimbabwe.

Kraigg Brathwaite is another Test skipper who has risen in the batting rankings, as the West Indies opener has risen four places to 21st after scoring 182 in the first Test against Zimbabwe.

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