Proteas speedster Kagiso Rabada is once again ranked as the world’s best Test bowler, according to the latest ICC rankings.

The 22-year-old Rabada picked up 11 wickets as South Africa beat Australia by six wickets in the second Test at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, putting him at the summit of the rankings for the second time in his fledgling career. England’s James Anderson drops down to second place.

Unfortunately, he won’t be able to build on his lead after he was banned for the remainder of the series due to on-field disciplinary issues.

In the batting rankings, AB de Villiers’ unbeaten knock of 126 saw him move up to No 7, while Hashim Amla moved up one place to No 9. Lungi Ngidi’s five wickets from the second Test saw him move up 12 places to No 37 among the bowlers.

Latest ICC Test rankings:
Batsmen
Under rank, player, team, points
1. Steve Smith (AUS) 943
2. Virat Kohli (IND) 912
3. Joe Root (ENG) 881
4. Kane Williamson (NZ) 855
5. David Warner (AUS) 831
6. Cheteshwar Pujara (IND) 810
7. AB de Villiers (SA) 778
8. Azhar Ali (PAK) 755
9. Hashim Amla (SA) 748
10. Alastair Cook (ENG) 742

Bowlers
Under rank, player, team, points
1. Kagiso Rabada (SA) 902
2. James Anderson (ENG) 887
3. Ravindra Jadeja (IND) 844
4. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) 803
5. Josh Hazlewood (AUS) 796
6. Neil Wagner (NZ) 784
7. Rangana Herath (SL) 777
8. Vernon Philander (SA) 776
9. Mitchell Starc (AUS) 772
10. Nathan Lyon (AUS) 753
37. Lungi Ngidi (SA) 405

All-rounders
Under rank, player, team, points
1. Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) 421
2. Ravindra Jadeja (IND) 391
3. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) 368
4. Ben Stokes (ENG) 358
5. Vernon Philander (SA) 314

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix