ICC rankings for Test bowlers: Dale Steyn continues dominance on top

Dale Steyn

There has been very little change at the top of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers with South African spearhead Dale Steyn continuing his domination at the top with 905 rating points. James Anderson, who has had healthy competition with Steyn in the battle for being recognised as the best fast bowler of the previous decade, is second with 824 rating points.

Australia pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, as well as West Indies wrist-spinner Devendra Bishoo have improved their standing in the ICC Test Player Rankings following the conclusion of the first Test at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica.

Starc, who was adjudged player of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, has maintained his bowling form to claim match figures of six for 76, which has given him a lift of five places and has put him in a career-high 25th position in the Reliance ICC Test Player Rankings for Test Bowlers.

Hazlewood, who was part of the Australia side that won the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2010, has also achieved a career-best ranking of 31^st after he has jumped 12 places following figures of three for 33 and two for 17.

Bishoo, who in 2011 won the ICC Emerging Player of the Year Award in London, has also made gains and his first innings figures of six for 80 have helped him leapfrog Jason Holder (50th) and Shannon Gabriel (51st) into 43rd position following a rise of 10 places.

With India’s one-off Test against Bangladesh about to get underway on Wednesday, there is a chance for bowlers from both the teams to advance in the rankings. As things stand, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will enter the series as the highest-ranked bowler in the 13^th position, followed by Shakib Al Hasan (17th), Ishant Sharma (19th), Taijul Islam (37th), Umesh Yadav (44th), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (48th) and Rubel Hossain (86th).

ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers

Rank	Player	Country	Rating
1	Dale Steyn	SA	905
2	James Anderson	ENG	824
3	Ryan Harris	AUS	818
4	Trent Boult	NZ	814
5	Mitchell Johnson	AUS	810
6	Rangana Herath	SL	807
7	Stuart Broad	ENG	782
8	Vernon Philander	SA	780
9	Morne Morkel	SA	727
10	Tim Southee	NZ	713