Ravichandran Ashwin reclaims top spot in ICC rankings for Test bowlers

Ravichandran Ashwin, Indian off spinner, has reclaimed top spot in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers following an exemplary performance in India's innings victory over West Indies in the first of the four-match Test series in Antigua. The 29-year-old spinner, who topped the year-end Test bowling rankings in 2015, was usurped by Yasir Shah following the leg spinner's 10-wicket exploits in Pakistan's win at Lord's last week.

Ashwin gained five ranking points for his seven-wicket haul at Antigua to open up a 44-point lead over Yasir, who conceded 46 points after an insipid showing in Pakistan's defeat at Old Trafford, which relegated him to the fifth spot. Ashwin, who also scored 113 in India's first innings, made gains in the batting rankings and strengthened his hold on the top spot among all-rounders as well.

Ashwin, only the third Indian to be top-ranked among all-rounders after Vinoo Mankad and Kapil Dev, now leads second-placed Shakib Al Hasan by 43 points in the all-rounders rankings.

In the batting standings, England's Joe Root powered to the second spot, behind Steve Smith, following innings of 254 and 71* at Old Trafford while Alastair Cook returned to the top-10 with knocks of 105 and 76* in the same Test. Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, who scored his maiden Test match double hundred in Antigua, climbed two places up to 12th.

All-round Ashwin stars in India's biggest win in West Indies

India enjoyed a near perfect start under Anil Kumble as they walloped a hapless West Indies team by and innings and 92 runs in under four days at Antigua, on Sunday (July 24).

If their batsmen sparkled in the first innings of the Test, amassing 566 for 8 before declaring, and the fast bowlers came to the party in the second, it were the spinners that shone in the third and final innings of the game.

R Ashwin had gone wicket-less in the first innings as well as on the morning of the fourth day, but during the second session he was near unplayable - picking up his first ever five-wicket haul outside Asia. He ended with 7 for 83.

During the morning session, Marlon Samuels and Rajendra Chandrika shared a vital fifty-run stand as West Indies fought hard to stay alive in the first of the four-Test series. But the best stand of the innings came with the hosts eight down and staring at defeat. Carlos Brathwiate took the attack to the Indian spinners, and with Devendra Bishoo for company, stalled the Indians for 24.1 overs. The pair added 95 runs for the 9th wicket, but it only delayed the inevitable.

Day 4 at Antigua began with India striking early, Darren Bravo, facing Umesh Yadav, played away from the body and the edge was smartly taken by Ajinkya Rahane at gully.

Samuels enjoyed some luck early on, with an inside edge through to the wicketkeeper being ruled not out by the third umpire. The decision had been referred to Gregory Brathwaite after Saha had claimed a low catch. TV replays turned out to be inconclusive with Samuels's bat obstructing the view just when the Indian took the catch. The third umpire finally ruled in the batsman's favour, and Samuels was handed a lucky reprieve on 16.

The right-hander was particularly attacking against Ashwin, hitting the off-spinner for three fours in one over.

Rain held up play for a bit, giving India coach Anil Kumble the chance to run his plans over with the team again, but before they could resume the game, Lunch was called.

After a fighting first session, West Indies capitulated to spin as Ashwin triggered a collapse with some superb off-spin. From a decent position at 88 for 2 in the 36h over, the home side lost six wickets for just 44 runs and left themselves facing a massive innings defeat and a series deficit.

India's breakthrough in the second session came with a slice of luck. Chandrika hopped down the track to meet an Ashwin delivery, but missed the clip to the leg side. The ball did not seem to have met the bat on its way to Saha's gloves, but umpire Aleem Dar thought otherwise.

With the opening they were looking for, India went for the kill. Jermaine Blackwood bagged a pair in the Test, flicking the ball to a diving Virat Kohli on the leg side, while Marlon Samuels was undone by a brilliant delivery.

Ashwin used the strong wind, blowing from East to West, to his advantage and bowled the straighter one. Samuels played a tad inside the line, anticipating for the ball to spin, but it managed to beat the bat and hit the stumps. Samuels had held one side up with a fine fifty, and it needed a special delivery to remove him.

Roston Chase departed soon after, with his forward prod taking the inside edge and going to forward short-leg, where substitute fielder KL Rahul took a good, low catch. It was Ashwin's fourth wicket of the innings.

Shane Dowrich, who hit a solid fifty in the first innings, was trapped leg before by Mishra soon after as West indies slipped towards a big defeat.

Jason Holder became Ashwin's fifth victim, being bowled by another superb delivery from the off-spinner for 16. The West Indies captain was lured into the drive with a floated delivery, but the ball spun in and disturbed the stumps.

Carlos Brathwaite and Bishoo put together a defiant 95-run stand. Both players were severe against the spinners, hitting over the top and collecting boundaries freely. Ashwin finally broke through in the 78th over by getting Bishoo caught at mid-wicket for 45.

Three balls later, Ashwin wrapped up the match by bowling out Shannon Gabriel for four.

The innings and 92-run victory is India's biggest outside Asia.