Smith scores sublime subcontinent century

Steve Smith has increased his lead as the world’s best Test batsman after his brilliant century in Australia’s first Test win against India in Pune.

Smith has moved to 939 ranking points, the sixth highest of all time behind Sir Donald Bradman (961), Len Hutton (945), Jack Hobbs (942), Ricky Ponting (942) and Peter May (941).

MUST READ: Sri Lanka lessons bring Indian masterclass

The Australia captain sits 66 points clear of second place and Border-Gavaskar Trophy rival Virat Kohli, while new England captain Joe Root, Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson and Smith’s deputy David Warner round out the top five.

First Test Wrap: Aussies thrash India in Pune

Smith has now scored 18 centuries in 51 Tests for Australia, and his latest ton was his 10th as Test skipper in just 37 innings, averaging a remarkable 61.67 at the helm.

“It's got to be right up there,” Smith said when asked where the Pune century rated in his career.

“I rode my luck and had a few lives but you need a bit of luck on a wicket like that.

“I was pleased to score a second innings hundred in India, formulate a different plan to what I normally play and problem solve on the spot.”

Smith heaps praise on teammates after victory

Kohli’s returns of 0 and 13 in the first Test were his lowest ever in Test match at home when he’s batted twice, and the result is a loss of 22 ranking points.

Master spinner Ravi Ashwin claimed seven wickets in the first Test to gain one ranking point as the world’s best Test bowler, but spin twin Ravindra Jadeja lost 17 points to move back to 860 and be tied with Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood, who bowled only nine overs in Pune.

Smith's century against the top two Test bowlers earned the Australian extra points in the ICC's weighted ranking system, with his knock coming in an victorious Test match and against the current No.1 ranked team all going in the Aussie skipper's favour.

First Test player of the match Stephen O’Keefe rocketed up 33 places to a career-high ranking of 29 in the world off the back of his stunning 12-70.

Super SOK scales the heights with 12 in India

The haul is the best by a touring spinner in India and the best match figures by an Australian left-arm spinner ever.

Australia opener Matt Renshaw moved up 18 spots to a career-best 34th position after 68 and 31, while India's KL Rahul made an 11-spot gain for a career-best 46th position after scores of 64 and 10 for India.

Mitchell Starc, who scored 61 and 30 and claimed Kohli for a second ball duck, is now the fourth-ranked Test allrounder, behind Ashwin, Bangaldesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Jadeja.

Starc swings hard to take India bowlers the distance

ICC Top 10 batters

ICC Top 10 bowlers

Click here for the full official ICC player rankings

Test Squads

India (for first two Tests): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Hardik Pandya.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 17-19, Tour match v India A, Mumbai

Feb 23-27, First Test: Australia won by 333 runs, Pune

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala

>