Ashwin replaces Yasir as world’s No 1 bowler

DUBAI: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has surged to the top of the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers replacing Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah after a superb outing in the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua which the visiting side won by an innings and 92 runs.

Yasir Shah had grabbed the No 1 ranking for bowlers only last week with a 10-wicket haul in the opening Test against England at Lord’s.

Yasir, who could take only one wicket in the second Test at Old Trafford, has dropped to fifth place below James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Dale Steyn.

Ashwin, who was top-ranked in the 2015 year-ending rankings, not only regained the top spot with his second-innings haul of seven for 83 but has also gained in the batsmen’s rankings with a knock of 113 and resultantly strengthened his grip on the top spot among all-rounders.

Ashwin has gained five points following his performance in the Antigua Test, while Anderson has earned seven points. This means the pre-Test gap between the two bowlers has been trimmed from three points to just one point only.

In contrast, Yasir has conceded 46 points and now trails number-one ranked Ashwin by 44 points.

Chris Woakes has jumped up 10 places to 23rd rank after his match-haul of seven for 108 at Old Trafford which contributed in England’s 330 runs victory that levelled the four-match series 1-1. India pace bowler Umesh Yadav has gained six places to reach 24th rank with five wickets in Antigua while his new-ball partner Mohammad Shami has returned to the rankings at 28th place.