De Kock reaches new career rankings high

Cape Town - Quinton de Kock's batting performances in New Zealand have seen him reach record new heights in the latest ICC Test rankings for batsmen.

The Proteas wicketkeeper/batsman scored 210 runs at an average of 52.5 in the recently completed three-match series, and that has been enough to see him rise four places to a career-high sixth in the rankings. 

That makes him South Africa's highest-ranked batsman, ahead of Hashim Amla (10th), AB de Villiers (12th) and Faf du Plessis (18th). 

De Kock, who played in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2012, is also ranked sixth and 23rd in the ICC ODI and T20I batting rankings, respectively. 

Meanwhile, Australia captain Steve Smith continues in the No 1 position and is currently 61 points ahead of his New Zealand opposite number, Kane Williamson, who has moved up two places to second following his 176 in the Hamilton Test against the Proteas. 

Smith had entered Australia's Test series against India leading Virat Kohli by 38 points, and finished as the most successful batsman with 499 runs in eight innings. 

Top 20 in the latest ICC Test ranking for batsmen:

1. Steve Smith (Aus) 941

2. Kane Williamson (NZ) 880   

3. Joe Root (Eng) 848      

4. Cheteshwar Pujara (Ind) 846     

5. Virat Kohli (Ind) 818     

6. Quinton de Kock (SA) 802

7. Azhar Ali (Pak) 779     

8. Younus Khan (Pak) 772        

9. David Warner (Aus) 759     

10. Hashim Amla (SA) 748    

11. Lokesh Rahul (Ind) 739

12. AB de Villiers (SA) 732     

13. Jonny Bairstow (Eng) 731

14. Ajinkya Rahane (Ind) 726  

15. Alastair Cook (Eng) 720    

16. Usman Khawaja (Aus) 718     

17. Ross Taylor (NZ) 705  

18. Faf du Plessis (SA) 690   

19. Angelo Mathews (SL) 688     

20. Kraigg Brathwaite (WI) 677