ICC Test Rankings: Ashwin rises to 2nd spot

After his 10-wicket haul in India’s 500th Test in Kanpur, offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin is 7 points away from reclaiming the number one rank in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) bowlers table. 

Ashwin, who took 10 wickets for 225 runs in the 3-match series opener against New Zealand, has moved up one place to be 2nd in the latest ICC Test Rankings for bowlers. India won the match by 197 runs at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium yesterday (September 26).

The Indian right-hander is 7 points away from the leader - Dale Steyn of South Africa. Ashwin displaced English paceman James Anderson from the second spot in the rankings updated on Tuesday (September 27).

With the 2nd Test against New Zealand starting Friday (September 30) at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, Ashwin has a chance to return to the top.

On July 26 this year, Ashwin had become the number one bowler in Test cricket after taking 7 wickets against the West Indies. Ashwin is currently the number one all-rounder in Test rankings.

Ashwin’s spin partner Ravindra Jadeja too gained a spot in the rankings and is now placed 7th. The left-arm slow bowler won the Man-of-the-match award in Kanpur Test. Jadeja took 6 wickets in the match.