New Delhi: ICC World No. 1 in Tests, the Indian cricket team bring end to their long home season with a 4-match Test series against Australia, starting February 23. After dominant wins over New Zealand, England and now Bangladesh, Virat Kohli and Co. take on the team from Down Under with an eye on protecting their position at the summit of the format.
Not just the Indian team, the ICC No. 1 and No. 2, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (separated by 10 points) would be looking to prove their credentials against yet again and prevent ICC No. 3 Josh Hazlewood (27 points behind Ashwin) from going further.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Virat Kohli, who scored 204 and 38 in his two innings during the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Hyderabad, achieved his career-high rating of 895 points and presently stands just five points away from breaking into the 900-point barrier.
If he manages to do so against the Aussies, he will become the 31st batsman overall and only the second Indian after Sunil Gavaskar (916) to reach the landmark. It should also be noted that Kane Williamson (823) and David Warner (812) are also in queue for the 31st position but considering the gap, their are unlikely to reach the mark before Kohli.
Other India batsmen to get close to the 900-point mark were the greats Sachin Tendulkar (898) and Rahul Dravid (892).
ICC Test Team Rankings:-
Based on the likely results Indian team can get against Australia, following are some permutations and their impact on the rankings:-
- India beats Australia 4-0 – India 125; Australia 105
- Australia beats India 4-0 – India 113, Australia 115
- India beats Australia 3-1 or 2-0 – India 123; Australia 107
- Australia beats India 3-1 or 2-0 – India 115; Australia 113
- India beats Australia 3-0 – India 124; Australia 106
- Australia beats India 3-0 – India 114; Australia 114
- India beats Australia 2-1 – India 122; Australia 108
- Australia beats India 2-1 – India 117; Australia 112
All in all, if India lose 4-0 or 3-0 – which is unlikely considering the hosts form – they are set to retain the No. 1 spot in the Test standings.
Here are the present ICC Test Batsmen rankings:-
1 S.P.D. Smith AUS 933
2 V. Kohli IND 895
3 J.E. Root ENG 848
4 K.S. Williamson NZ 823
5 D.A. Warner AUS 812
6 H.M. Amla SA 787
7 Azhar Ali PAK 779
8 Younus Khan PAK 772
9 C.A. Pujara IND 761
10 Q. de Kock SA 760
Here are the present ICC Test Bowler rankings:-
1 R. Ashwin IND 887
2 R.A. Jadeja IND 877
3 J.R. Hazlewood AUS 860
4 H.M.R.K.B. Herath SL 827
5 K. Rabada SA 821
6 D.W. Steyn SA 819
7 J.M. Anderson ENG 810
8 S.C.J. Broad ENG 803
9 V.D. Philander SA 798
10 M.A. Starc AUS 770
India take on Australia on 1st match of the 4-Test series on February 23, 2017 in Pune.
Source: Zee News