Kagiso Rabada crowned as World’s No.1 Test bowler

What’s brewing?

As per the latest ICC rankings, young Proteas quick bowler has been crowned as the world’s best Test bowler. The update comes just a day after he was suspended, following a physical altercation with Australian captain Steve Smith on the first day of the Port Elizabeth Test.

The 22-year old whose 11-wicket haul across two innings paved the way for his team’s comeback after a crushing loss by 119 runs at Kingsmead, Durban, has leapfrogged the incumbent James Anderson. Rabada also crossed the 900-rating point barrier and has Anderson (887) and India’s spinner Ravindra Jadeja (844) behind them to round off the top 3.

In case you don’t know…

Rabada was reprimanded by the ICC after his brush with Australian captain Steve Smith on the first day of the Port Elizabeth that fetched him three demerit points. Rabada had come into the series with five demerit points to his name and his altercation with the Aussie captain added three more to his tally, taking him to the suspension threshold. Rabada was also sanctioned with one demerit point for his fiery send-off of David Warner and a further 15 percent of his match fee.

Cricket South Africa has 48 hours after the charge was issued to decide whether to appeal, a decision yet to be taken.

Updated ICC Test Rankings for bowlers:

     Player                     Country       Points

#1 Kagiso Rabada       SA                 902

#2 James Anderson    ENG              887

#3 Ravindra Jadeja     IND              844

#4 R. 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