Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin becomes top-ranked bowler in tests

Ravichandran Ashwin claims top spot: Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin risen to the top of the latest ICC Men's Test bowling rankings as James Anderson's stay at the summit comes to an end.

India’s empathic victory over Australia in the second Test, as Ashwin claimed the top spot among other bowlers in his recent performance with Anderson dropping to second place after England's stunning loss to New Zealand in the Wellington Test. 

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Notably, Ashwin is 36-year-old and returned to the top spot on several occasions since 2015. 

Ashwin bagged big wickets in India's win in Dehli, removing Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in the same over of the first innings before returning to pick up Alex Carey for a duck.

Ashwin has an opportunity to extend his latest stay in the No 1 spot in India's remaining two Tests on home soil in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

Ashwin is the third No 1 Test bowler in as many weeks after Anderson replaced Australia captain Pat Cummins at the summit last time around. The trio continue to make up the top three bowlers in the latest rankings.

Although the veteran made an impact again in the remarkable second Test, taking three top-order wickets in the first innings, he is now five rating points behind Ashwin who remains on 864 points.

 Meanwhile, New Zealander Tom Blundell is a new arrival in the top 10, rising four places to seventh after he helped the Black Caps to their famous follow-on victory by one run in the second Test against England.

England young gun Harry Brook continues his meteoric rise up the batting rankings after another superb century, climbing 15 places to draw level with Virat Kohli in 16th.

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Recent results in the League 2 competition have also seen Scotland spinner Mark Watt rise to a career-high 17th in the ICC Men's ODI Bowling Rankings after taking 13 wickets in four matches in Nepal.