Dubai: Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s match haul of 12 for 85 against New Zealand in the first Test has helped him leap 19 places to a career-best rank of 25th in the latest ICC rankings for Test bowlers.
Ashwin led his side to an innings and 115-run victory, and also fetched him the Man-of-the-Match award.
Ashwin backed up his bowling performance with a handy knock of 37 and the combined good show with the bat and the ball has given him a career-high 12th position (up by 14) in the rankings for all-rounders.
Pragyan Ojha, who ended with a match haul of six for 92, has also jumped six places to 15th spot, which is also his career best.
The rankings for Test bowlers is still headed by South Africa’s Dale Steyn, with team mate Vernon Philander and Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan in second and third positions, respectively.
Meanwhile, the only centurion in the Hyderabad Test, Cheteshwar Pujara, has re-entered the rankings for Test batsmen in 58th position.
Sachin Tendulkar has dropped out of the top 10 and is now in 11th place while Suresh Raina has slipped seven places to 80.
Kumar Sangakarra remains the top-ranked batsman, followed by Hashim Amla and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul in second and third places, respectively. (PTI)
