Spinner Ravindra Jadeja climbs to career-best 13th in Tests

Dubai, Nov 18 - Following his match-winning performance against South Africa in the first Test in Mohali, Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja achieved a career-best ranking of 13th, jumping eight places in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test bowlers rankings released on Wednesday.

Jadeja is now only behind Indian bowler behind offie Ravichandran Ashwin (fifth spot) in the ICC rankings. The slow left-arm bowler picked eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings, in the first Test to gain in rankings.

He also took four wickets on the first day of the second Test in Bengaluru before the next four days were washed out by heavy showers.

Among the Indian batsmen, opener Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli all dropped a place to be ranked 12th, 14th and 17th whereas opener Shikhar Dhawan gained five positions and is now 33rd.

South Africa one-day skipper AB de Villiers, who played his 100th Test in Bengaluru, is leading the batting chart while compatriot pacer Dale Steyn has retained his No.1 position in bowlers' rankings.

ICC Test batsmen rankings (top-10)
1. AB de Villiers (SA) 899 points
2. Steven Smith (Aus) 893
3. Kane Williamson (NZ) 893
4. Joe Root (Eng) 886
5. David Warner (Aus) 880
6. Hashim Amla (SA) 851
7. Angelo Mathews (SL) 851
8. Younus Khan (Pak) 826
9. Alastair Cook (Eng) 803
10. Ross Taylor (NZ) 797

ICC Test bowlers rankings (top-10)
1. Dale Steyn (SA) 893 points
2. James Anderson (Eng) 846
3. Yasir Shah (Pak) 846
4. Stuart Broad (Eng) 840
5. Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind) 806
6. Trent Boult (NZ) 781
7. Vernon Philander (SA) 761
8. Rangana Herath (SL) 751
9. Mitchell Johnson (Aus) 744
10. Morne Morkel (SA) 690

(IANS)