ICC Test rankings: Steve Smith reclaims top spot in batsman’s charts, Virat Kohli jumps to fourth

India skipper Virat Kohli climbed to the fourth spot while Australia batsman Steve Smith reclaimed the top position in the ICC Test rankings released on Wednesday.

Kohli, who will lead India in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton from Friday, has 814 points.

Keeping Kohli company in the top 10 is flamboyant Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (747 points) and star opener Rohit Sharma (747 points), who have retained their joint sixth position.

Smith, who claimed the top spot for the first time since the Boxing Day Tests last year, takes over from New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who is set to lead his team in the WTC final.

Williamson, who missed the second Test against England due to injury, has slipped five points behind Smith’s 891 rating points and is second in the batters’ list.

This means that Smith has been at the top for 167 Tests played worldwide in total, only behind Garry Sobers (189 matches) and Viv Richards (179 matches).

In the Test bowling rankings, senior India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continued to occupy the second place (850 points), behind Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins (908 points).

Ashwin is the lone Indian in the top 10.

West Indies’ Jason Holder retained his top position in…

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