Virat Kohli stays second in Test rankings behind Smith

TIL Desk Sports/ India captain Virat Kohli remained in second spot behind Steve Smith while Alastair Cook jumped nine places to be eighth in the latest ICC Test rankings after his unbeaten double century in the ongoing Ashes.

A magnificent double century by Cook has helped him to finish the year inside the top 10 batsmen in Test rankings, which were released on Sunday following the conclusion of the Melbourne and Port Elizabeth Tests.

The 33-year-old left-handed opener scored 244 in his England’s first innings score of 491. He will start 2018 with South Africa’s seventh-ranked Hashim Amla firmly within his sights, who is 17 points ahead of the former England captain.

Cook had begun the year in 15th position, while he had entered the Ashes in 10th position. Meanwhile, Steve Smith’s contributions of 76 and 102 not out has strengthened his position at the top of the table.

England captain Joe Root is the other batsman to improve his ranking, when he moved up one place to join his opposite number from New Zealand, Kane Williamson, in fourth place. Root and Williamson had started 2017 in third and fourth positions, respectively.