Herath, Root climb ICC Test rankings

England batsman Joe Root and Sri Lanka veteran Rangana Herath have climbed the International Cricket Council’s Test player charts but have failed to displace top-ranked batsman Steve Smith and bowler Ravi Ashwin.

Australia captain Smith remains best Test batsman in the world and India spinner Ashwin keeps his spot atop the longest format’s bowling charts despite Herath and Root both moving up into second positions on the respective rankings.

Herath, Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain for their recent Test series win in Zimbabwe, overtook injured fast-bowlers Dale Steyn and James Anderson to grab second spot on the Test bowling rankings.

Root, who struck 124 in England’s drawn series-opener against India, leap-frogged New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson after the Kiwi passed 50 just once during his four innings in the Black Caps 3-0 series defeat at the hands of an Ashwin-inspired India.

England spearhead Stuart Broad, who notched Test number 100 against India in Rajkot, dropped out of the top-five bowlers, meaning three of the leading quintet (Ashwin, Herath and No.5 ranked Yasir Shah) are now spin-bowlers.

Australia pair David Warner (No.7) and Adam Voges (No.8) remain alongside Smith in the top 10 batsmen, with both players moving up a position after India right-hander Ajinkya Rahane slid down four spots.

South Africa’s Hashim Amla (No.5) and injured captain AB de Villiers (No.6) also moved up a rung.

Mitchell Starc (No.8) and Josh Hazlewood (No.9) retain their spots in the top 10 bowlers, while Nathan Lyon (No.16) and Peter Siddle (No.18) are the next highest-ranked Australians.

Ashwin remains the No.1 ranked Test allrounder in the world, with Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan hot on his heels. Enigmatic Englishman Ben Stokes, who joined Root in tonning up in the first Test against India, now sits in third spot having overtaken teammate Moeen Ali.