Cricket news round-up – September 4: Smith topples Kohli to complete stunning comeback

Steven Smith became the top-ranked Test batsman again after Virat Kohli was dismissed for a golden duck in the second innings of the Jamaica Test. Elsewhere, Mithali Raj, the India Women stalwart, called time on her T20I career, and Hamilton Masakadza became the second Zimbabwe player to retire after ICC’s suspension.

Smith becomes No. 1 Test batsman

Steven Smith jumped to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test Rankings for batsmen after Virat Kohli failed to score a century in the two-match series against the West Indies. The Indian captain was dismissed for a golden duck by Kemar Roach in the second innings in Jamaica, and with Smith having scored 144, 142 and 92 since his return to Test cricket last month, the former Australia captain had done enough to get back atop the rankings.

The feat is remarkable, given Smith spent a year out of international cricket, serving a ban for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town last year. It is a mark of the high standards and the big lead set by Smith that he has been able to regain the top spot just two matches in this comeback (he missed the third Ashes Test at Headingley).

Elsewhere, Jasprit Bumrah’s stellar rise in Test cricket continued as he moved up to No. 3 in the bowlers’ rankings, following his 13 wickets in the Caribbean. Ajinkya Rahane’s return to form meant he moved up four places to No. 7 in the batting charts.

Mithali Raj announces retirement from T20Is

Mithali Raj called curtains on her T20I career, and will now focus solely on ODI cricket, with an eye on the 2021 Women’s ODI World Cup.

Raj was India’s first T20I captain, in 2006, and her 2364 runs in 89 matches is the most in the format by an Indian. “After representing India in T20 internationals since 2006, I wish to retire from T20Is to focus my energies on readying myself for the 2021 One Day World Cup,” she said in her statement.

“It remains my dream to win a World Cup for my country and I want to give it my best. I thank the BCCI for their continuous support and wish the Indian T20 team good luck as they prepare for the home series against South Africa Women.”

Masakadza set to retire after Bangladesh tri-series

Hamilton Masakadza has announced his decision to retire after the T20I tri-series in Bangladesh, also involving Afghanistan. Masakadza retires as the fourth highest capped Zimbabwe player in ODIs, and his announcement comes following the ICC suspension of Zimbabwe Cricket in July.

Masakadza scored 5,658 runs from 209 ODIs, a return that puts him at fourth in the list of highest run-scorers for Zimbabwe in ODIs. He has also been influential in T20Is, with 1529 runs in 62 T20Is, including 10 half-centuries, and he has also captained the country on occasion.

Masakadza becomes the second Zimbabwe player to retire after the ICC suspension, with Solomon Mire the first to call it quits in the immediate aftermath of the announcement.

Ashwin set to make move from Punjab to the capital

Delhi Capitals are close to securing the services of R Ashwin, ESPNCricinfo has reported.

Ashwin joined Kings XI Punjab in 2018 for Rs 7.6 crore, and was made captain of the side. However, he is now set to be traded to Delhi, who the report suggests are keen to buy the player out in an all-cash deal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad were also said to be interested, but it’s Delhi who have made progress with the deal, and Ashwin looks likely to join an already strong list of spinners in the capital, including Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Jalaj Saxena, J Suchith and Sandeep Lamichhane.