JUST IN: New ICC Test Rankings have been released

It has been a massive year for Test cricket, with all nations producing some brilliant performances in the format to help maintain the popularity of the game’s oldest and purest form.

Steve Smith ended the year as the top ranked batsman, following a brilliant year with the bat, scoring hundreds for fun in foreign and home conditions. Smith recently brought up his 24th Test ton, following a gritty knock in the 3rd innings to save the Test match for Australia.

Virat Kohli ended the year as the number 2 ranked batsman, thanks to a brilliant home season.

South Africa had the most number of Batsman in the top 20, with Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Faf Du Plesis, QDK and AB de Villiers making the cut.

Indian batsman too had good representation in the top 20, with Pujara(Ranked 3), KL Rahul(Ranked 12) and Ajinkya Rahane(Ranked 19) featuring in the list.

James Anderson ended the year as the top ranked Test bowler, following some inspired performances in the Ashes.

Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin ended the year as the number 3 and number 4 ranked bowlers in 2017. India’s spinning duo featured in the all-rounder rankings as well, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively, with Shakib Al Hasan leading the charts.

As far as the team rankings are concerned, India ended the year as the top ranked Test side, after an emphatic home season that saw them brush aside all sides that visited the sub-continent.