ICC Test rankings: Steve Smith dethrones Virat Kohli by a point to acquire numero uno position

By just a point, Australia's Steve Smith reclaims No.1 spot on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for batsmen. He dethroned India captain Virat Kohli who has now slipped to No.2, following his first-ball duck in Jamaica.

Smith - who missed the third Test at Headingley - has a chance to extend that lead in the fourth Ashes Test, starting Wednesday.

Smith was on the top spot since December 2015. But in August 2018 - while serving a ban for his role in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal - Kohli overtook him on the charts.

Steve Smith has climbed to No.1 in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test batting rankings, just one point ahead of Virat Kohli!

Details  https://t.co/d4po5ePxwf

— ICC (@ICC) September 3, 2019

The Australian No.4 fought his way back up, making twin centuries in the first Test against England and 92 in the second. He now averages 63.2 in Test cricket.

Kohli can now only challenge Smith back home in the Test series against South Africa, starting on 2 October.

As for the other Indian performers, Ajinkya Rahane returns to the top 10, rising four places to No.7 post his half-century and hundred in Antigua while Hanuma Vihari - described by Kohli as "the find of the series" - shot up 40 places to No. 30 after just six Tests.