Steve Smith is back on top of the world after Virat Kohli’s modest performance at Lord’s saw the banned Australia batsman return to top spot in the Test batting rankings.
Smith is currently part way through a 12-month ban for his part in March’s ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, but that has not stopped him returning to the summit in the International Cricket Council’s list.
India skipper Kohli had deposed Smith after scoring 200 runs against England at Edgbaston, but knocks of 23 and 17 in the second Test saw him slip back.
England skipper Joe Root was a non-mover at three, while fellow Yorkshireman Jonny Bairstow jumped three places to ninth.
There was also good news for the world’s number one bowler, James Anderson. A match haul of nine for 43 in swing-friendly conditions at headquarters saw him breach the 900-point barrier.
That is a mark only attributed to six other Englishman and was last achieved by Sir Ian Botham in 1980.
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