Virat Kohli ends year as top-ranked Test player

Indian captain Virat Kohli ended the year 2018 as a top-ranked player in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test ranking.

According to the recently updated rankings list, the 30-year-old dropped three points despite a first innings score of 82 in the third Test in Melbourne, but still enjoys a 34-point lead over Kane Williamson.

The right-hand batsman, who attained a career-high 937 points during the year, which is the highest ever by an India batsman, scored 1322 runs in all. He overtook Steven Smith in August and is now holding the top position for 135 days.

Indian middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has maintained the fourth position in the Test ranking after a first-innings century in Melbourne. While wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has gained 10 slots to reach a career-best 38th position, debutant opener Mayank Agarwal has entered the batsmen's list at an impressive 67th place after scores of 76 and 42 which helped his side register a 137-run victory to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

In the bowling department, South African pacer Kagiso Rabada maintained his top position in the ICC Test bowlers' ranking. The 23-year-old, who split the top ranking with England's seasoned fast bowler James Anderson during the year, is just six points ahead of his adversary.

Rabada grabbed six wickets in the opening match at Centurion that South Africa won by six wickets to finish with 52 wickets in 10 Tests in 2018. He also became the youngest to take top position among bowlers during the year and held the spot for 178 days during the year

India's Jasprit Bumrah has moved from 28th to 12th in the Test ranking after his match haul of nine for 86, the best-ever by an India seam bowler in Australia. He is now the highest-ranked India fast bowler in the format with Mohammed Shami next at 23rd spot.

For Australia, Pat Cummins has been the pick having gained five slots to reach a career-best third position after finishing with nine wickets in the match. He has also gained 13 slots to reach 91st place among batsmen with some useful runs down the order. Travis Head (up seven places to 56th) has also benefitted in the latest rankings update.

New Zealand fast bowlers have a lot to cheer about following their record 423-run win over Sri Lanka in Christchurch. Trent Boult's nine wickets in the match have helped him gain seven slots to reach the seventh position while Tim Southee (up two places to ninth) and Neil Wagner (up one place to 15th) have also moved up.

Century-makers at Christchurch, Henry Nicholls (up two places to seventh) and Tom Latham (up eight places to 14th), and Jeet Raval (up two places to 35th) have also gained in the latest rankings update.

For South Africa, former captain Hashim Amla (up three places to 11th place) and Temba Bavuma (up four places to 31st) have gained among batsmen while fast bowler Duanne Olivier has gained 17 places to reach 36th position after his player of the match effort of 11 wickets.

Pakistan's Babar Azam has gained nine slots to reach 27th position after innings of 71 and six while left-arm fast bowlers Mohammad Amir (up two places to 34th) and Shaheen Afridi (up 38 places to 73rd) have advanced after taking four and five wickets in Centurion.

Meanwhile, New Zealand have leapfrogged South Africa to take third place in the ICC Test Team Rankings after starting the series against Sri Lanka with a chance of going up to the second position with a 2-0 win.

-ANI