AB knocked off top Test batting perch
It’s been pretty tough going for South Africa in India.
South Africa’s AB de Villiers has been replaced at the top of the ICC player rankings for Test batsmen.
After scores of 0 and 9 in last week’s 124-run defeat to India in Nagpur, De Villiers has slipped to No 3 in the rankings.
Australia captain Steven Smith and England’s Joe Root have regained joint pole position on 886 ratings points, with De Villiers dropping to third spot on 877 points.
The South Africa middle-order batsman may trail the duo by nine points, but a strong showing in Delhi this week could see him regain top billing.
South Africa’s Dale Steyn, who missed South Africa’s last two Tests with a groin injury, still leads the Test bowling rankings on 884 points, but Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has moved into second spot after claiming 12 for 98 in a man-of-the-match performance against South Africa.
