Smith closes rankings gap on Bradman

It is official – Steve Smith is the best since Bradman.

The decorated Australia skipper continues to reach new heights, achieving the second-highest ICC Test batting points rating of all-time on the back of his 23rd Test century.

Smith contributed 76 and an unbeaten 102 in Australia’s draw against England in the fourth Magellan Ashes Test at the MCG, strengthening his position at the top of the rankings.

The 28-year-old’s latest accomplishment lifted him to 947 points, giving the right-hander sole ownership of second spot behind Sir Donald Bradman, who reached 961 points in February, 1948.

Smith previously shared second place with Englishman Sir Len Hutton on 945 points before gaining two points from his outstanding effort in Melbourne.

The dominant Smith has passed three figures three times in the current series, making an unbeaten 141 in the first Test and 239 in the third Test.

Smith has 604 runs for the series at a remarkable average of 151 with one Test remaining in Sydney, which starts on January 4.

He posted six Test tons in 2017 and is the third-fastest man behind Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar to post 23 Test hundreds.

Smith’s current Test average of 63.55 after 60 Tests is the highest of any player in history at the same stage of his career, ahead of Sir Garry Sobers' mark of 61.96.

"I just want to be out there batting," Smith said after the drawn Test at the MCG.

"I don't actually like watching cricket that much and would prefer to be out there batting and just getting the job done.

"You’ve just got to try and stay as focused as you can each ball and treat every ball like a different challenge and get through as many as you can."

Smith is 54 points clear of India’s Virat Kohli (893), while Cheteshwar Pujara (873) is third.

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and England’s Joe Root share fourth place on 855. 

Australia’s David Warner (831), South Africa’s Hashim Amla (776), England’s Alastair Cook (759), Pakistan’s Azhar Ali (755) and Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal (743) round out the top 10.

Cook's unbeaten double century against Australia helped him finish the year in the top 10.

The 33-year-old left-handed opener scored 244 in his side’s first innings score of 491, which helped him to rise nine places to eighth position. Cook will start 2018 with Amla, who is 17 points ahead of the former England captain, in his sights.

Cook started the year in 15th position, while he had entered the Ashes in 10th spot.

There is no change in the top nine in the Test bowling rankings with England’s James Anderson at the summit. Anderson started 2017 on 810 points and in sixth position and finished on 892 points, while South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada is second on 883 points.

India spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Sri Lanka tweaker Rangana Herath filled the top three positions at the start of the year and finished in third, fourth and sixth places, respectively, while Australia’s Josh Hazlewood is in fifth spot.

The only change in the top 10 is the return of Proteas paceman Morne Morkel in 10th position. 

The 33-year-old claimed 5-21 in Zimbabwe’s first innings and has been rewarded with a rise of three places, giving him a spot in the top 10 for the first time in almost two years.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test Match drawn. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Scorecard

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21