DUBAI: Australian batsman Steve Smith, who scored a century in both the first Tests of the Ashes series against Britain, came third in the new rankings released by the ICC on Tuesday, beating India's Cheteshwar Pujara. Indian captain Virat Kohli continues to be the top scorer in the rankings, while Pujara slipped to the fourth position. Smith, playing his first Test match after facing a one-year ban for ball-playing, scored 144 and 142 runs and was elected as the man of the match.
He had 857 rating points before the Test and is the third player to score more than 900 rating points in the current rankings after the match. Apart from Kohli (922) and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (913), Smith (903) has more than 900 rating points. Australia's Nathan Leon, who took nine wickets in the Test match, climbed six places to 13th position. Fast bowler Pat Cummins has further strengthened his position at number one by taking seven wickets in the match.
He has reached a career-best 898 points, becoming the third-highest rating scorer after Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne in 50 years. Opener Rory Burns, who scored 133 runs in the first innings for England, climbed 25 places to reach the 81st position of career-best. Stuart Brad, who completed a century of Test wickets against Australia, climbed two notches to the 16th position.
The Viral tweet of Sushma on which the President had to intervene
