Ravichandran Ashwin rises to second spot on ICC Test bowler rankings

It was only time before Ravichandran Ashwin returned to the familiar shores, of topping the ICC Test bowler rankings, with his consistent display. Following yet another fruitful outing against Australia, the all-rounder has risen back to No.2, 21 rating points behind Australian skipper and Test No.1 bowler, Pat Cummins. 

The off-spinner played a crucial part in India’s win in Nagpur, with figures of 3/42 and 5/37 across the two innings. Elsewhere, West Indies spinner, Gudakesh Motie has made a massive jump to 46th place, after just three Tests. The reason: his 19 Test wickets against Zimbabwe across the Test series, that has enabled the spinner to move 77 places up. 

On the batting front of things, it was a one-man display in Nagpur, Rohit Sharma. The home-boy scored a scintillating century on a surface that others found daunting. That has helped the opener jump from 10th place to make a surge into the top ten, at eight. Contrastingly, David Warner and Usman Khawaja paid prices for their terrible run in Nagpur. 

While Warner has fallen six places, to 20th, Khawaja has dropped outside the top nine, at tenth following scores of 1 and 5 in the Nagpur Test. Windies skipper and pillar of their batting strength, Kraigg Brathwaite has moved to 21st place, after his 182 against Zimbabwe whilst his fellow opener, Tagenarine Chanderpaul has jumped to 58th place.