India ready to take away Test Championship mace from Pakistan

India just a victory away

 

 

Dubai: India will reclaim the Test rankings top spot from Pakistan if they manage to win the second Test against New Zealand starting on Friday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The victory in their 500th Test in Kanpur meant India is now a victory away from reclaiming the Test Championship mace from Pakistan.

India had entered the three-match series against the Kiwis, trailing Pakistan by a point and needed to win the series to move ahead of its traditional rival.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who stole the show in Kanpur, also climbed one place to occupy second position in the Test rankings for bowlers.

Ashwin's match haul of 10-225, that helped India notch up a 197-run victory in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur on Monday, has seen him overtake England pacer James Anderson by one point.

He is now within seven points of number one ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa, who leads the chart with 878 points.

Another sterling performance in the Kolkata Test will potentially see Ashwin top the bowling charts for the second time this year after first claiming the number one position last year.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson also climbed up a place to occupy the second position among batsmen.

Williamson edged England's Joe Root by a point with innings of 75 and 25 runs to reach 879 points in the batting rankings, which is led by Australia captain Steve Smith with 906 points.

However, to move ahead or edge even closer to Smith, Williamson will have to produce strong performances in the remaining two Tests.