Rabada becomes top-ranked Test bowler

DUBAI: Kagiso Rabada has become the number-one ranked bowler in the ICC Test Player Rankings after helping South Africa to an exciting 72-run victory over India in the first Test at Newlands on Monday.

Rabada, who was one of the stars in South Africa’s successful campaign in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in the UAE in 2014, returned figures of three for 34 and two for 41 against a star-studded India batting line-up.

For this effort, the 22-year-old has collected five points. James Anderson, who entered the Sydney Test as the number-one ranked bowler, lost as many points following the last Ashes Test. This 10-point swing meant the South African moved ahead of the Englishman by one point. Nine points had separated the two fast bowlers leading into the two Tests.

Rabada is the seventh South Africa bowler to top the ICC Test Bowling Rankings after Aubrey Faulkner, Hugh Tayfield, Peter Pollock, Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander.Rabada’s team-mate Philander earned 67 points for his match figures of nine for 75.

The 32-year-old thus rose to the sixth position from 12th.Philander now trails Australia’s Josh Hazlewood by eight points and has an opportunity to break into the top-five in the Centurion Test, which begins on Saturday.

In the ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen, Australia’s Steve Smith remains at the top with 947 points.England captain Joe Root leapfrogged India’s Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson of New Zealand. India’s Cheteshwar Pujara slipped from third to fifth place.

South Africa’s Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar have slipped three places apiece to finish in 10th and 16th positions, respectively, but AB de Villiers rose five places to 13th. Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Marsh have all achieved career-best rankings due to their centuries in the Sydney Test.

Khawaja, who scored 171 in Australia’s 649 for seven declared, jumped eight places to 19th after collecting 55 points. Shaun earned 42 points for his fine 156, moving from 31st to 20th spot. His younger brother Mitchell has been rewarded for his 101 with a leap of eight places that has put him in 57th position.