Australian skipper and top-ranked Steve Smith's phenomenal run has lifted him to new heights in the latest ICC Test Player rankings as he has moved closer towards Don Bradman's highest-ever ranking points after a match-winning double-century in the third Ashes Test against England in Perth. The Australia captain's innings of 239 runs against England, which helped his team regain the Ashes by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, has seen him reach a tally of 945 points to take joint second position in the all-time list along with Len Hutton.

Aussies Skipper Steve Smith had reached to 941 points after the first Test in Adelaide before dropping briefly to 938 after the Brisbane Test. Aussies skipper Smith, who has gained seven points after his Perth performance to overtake Peter May, Ricky Ponting and Jack Hobbs and to within16 points of Bradman's tally of 961 points, has had a minimum of 918 points over the past 12 months, which is 25 more than second-placed Virat Kohli's current total.

Steve Smith batting average of 62.32 is second only to Bradman in terms of batsmen with at least 20 Test innings and by the time the fourth Test of the series starts on Boxing Day, he would be the number one for two years. Smith is already ahead of Bradman with regard to the number of Tests at the top. He has now been number one for 114 Tests. Australia, who won the Perth Test by an innings and 41 runs at the WACA to regain the coveted urn, will now play the inconsequential fourth Test against England, beginning December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).