Steve Smith has lost the top spot in the ICC’s world batting rankings to Kane Williamson, dropping down to No.3 for the first time since returning from his ban.
Smith’s uncharacteristically poor start to the summer has seen him drop to No.3 in the rankings, having scored just 10 runs at 3.33 in the first two Tests against India.
Aside from during his 12-month ban, it marks the first time Smith has dropped out of the world’s top two since way back in November 2015.
He has been in the top spot since February, having held it when cricket was shut down by the pandemic.
Smith has this week spoken about the challenges of hub life, having lived in cricket’s COVID-safe bubble since August.
But his biggest craving remains time in the middle.
He has faced just 68 balls in the first two Tests of this summer, after no red or pink-ball cricket since January.
Smith has been caught around the bat on the legside twice in his three dismissals and bowled leg stump on the other occasion, with Australia confident it’s a tactical and not technical issue.
“It’s more about the method now,” assistant coach Andrew McDonald said.
“He’s working hard. He’s clearly hitting the ball well.
“Technically (both Smith and Marnus Labuschagne) are ready to go.
“It’s about how they are going to score their runs and how they’re going to combat these tactics from Indian bowlers and captains.
“There’s a challenge there for Steve to rebound, the world’s best players usually rebound and I think he’s in a really good space to perform come Sydney.”
Williamson is the first player outside of Smith and Virat Kohli to have the top spot in the rankings since the New Zealander held it briefly in 2015.
He earned his way there with 129 against Pakistan after hitting a double-century against the West Indies earlier in December.
Pat Cummins remains the world’s top-ranked bowler after holding the position since August 2019, while Mitchell Starc has returned to his career-best mark of fifth.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Absolutely! :sick:
Money rules everything. Sigh.
On current form (batting) this Oz Team would get spanked in both IND & RSA :stoked:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Ha, touche!
Andy J
Roar Rookie
Let’s see Australia do the same! Or beat India at home!
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
No warm up games is terrible. I hate the boards doing it that way. Squeeze in more white ball, Chase the nomadic channel surfing fans dollar rather then look after read fans. Aust fans will bring it up at ashes times, have for years, boards don’t care.
Micko
Roar Rookie
That doesn't mean that much. Let's see NZ win in Australia, SA & India first.
Andy J
Roar Rookie
Number one test team
Micko
Roar Rookie
Why not?
Andy J
Roar Rookie
Won’t need to anymore !
Micko
Roar Rookie
They had a 2 test series in NZ against England prior to the tour here, which wasn't part of the ICC test championship, but a backlog of agreed to future tours. As a big money earner for NZC there was no way they were going to cancel that series, just so they could fit in more practice games in Australia prior to the series here.
Micko
Roar Rookie
That's just NZ in general though. England by far plays the most tests, then Australia & India.
Bobbo7
Guest
NZ cricket takes what it can get
The whole team looked out of sorts in Australia. Always tough to play Aussie in Aussie - but jeez Kiwis made Aussies look way better than they are. Perhaps it was a blip . A couple warm up games might have helped -- stupid NZCC accepting the tour schedule in the first place,
Sylvester
Guest
Just a shame KW doesn't get to play as much test cricket as the others in the top 3.
Bobbo7
Guest
Williamson looks in great touch again. Had a bit of an iffy period after the WC. I reckon the bullshit way England were awarded the cup really cut Williamson up - much more than he let on. He looked well out of sorts in Australia. I remember a baked pullshot about 5 balls into an innings that was just so uncharacteristic for him.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm happy for Williamson, but there's really a split hair between the top 4 guys so wouldn't surprise to see Smith, Williamson or even Labuschagne top the charts before the southern season's finished.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Williamson would be further ahead but slogged his wicket away for 20-odd in the 2nd innings as NZ chased quick runs before declaring.